Nearly 7 months ago, Bosch Tools announced that AmpShare was coming to the USA. So, what’s new?
Bosch AmpShare is built around the brand’s 18V cordless power tool system, and basically opens the battery platform for use with other brands’ cordless power tools.
Bosch said that, in addition to Fein and Rothenberger, 12 partner brands would be launching AmpShare tools in 2023 and 2024.
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We’re closing out 2023, and I haven’t heard a peep from Bosch or any other brand about new AmpShare tools coming out here in the USA.
Looking around, I did find a single Fein AmpShare cordless oscillating multi-tool that is available at Amazon via 3rd party suppliers. Digging deeper, they have the same tool in a couple of configurations, and also an angle grinder.
I guess that’s a start, but just 2 Fein tools? AmpShare launched in Europe more than a year ago and was announced in the USA around 7 months ago. I expected a little more activity by now.
It seems that Fein didn’t even send out a press release for their AmpShare tool launch. While they’re promoting the MultiMaster on their social media accounts, I only saw one post in the past 3 months that shows an AmpShare battery.
AmpShare has the tagline “Many brands. Many tools. One battery system.” Things seem to be off to a very slow start, but hopefully we’ll see some more new tools in 2024.
I am also a little concerned that Lowe’s is doing little to promote Bosch cordless power tools this holiday season. I was doubly disappointed to have not seen a single AmpShare-compatible tool in stores or online, aside from Bosch.
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In my opinion, AmpShare needs 3 things to thrive – broad tool selection, retail support and visibility, and strong marketing. Would anyone say they’ve done a great job at any of this so far?
Bosch and their partners have their work cut out for them. C’mon – you can do it! But will they?
Hopefully things will look very different by this time next year.
James
As someone somewhat heavily invested in Bosch batteries, I’m watching this space..
Tim
Meanwhile Rothenberger has several tools on the Metabo CAS system.
MM
I believe that Mafell has new tools in the works on CAS as well.
fred
I believe that both of the Mafell cordless saw kits ( KSS 40 18M bl and KSS 60 18M bl) that I purchased as Christmas gifts last year are compatible with Metabo batteries. The Mafell batteries that came with them sure look like Metabo’s – down to saying the COO is Hungary. I thought it a bit odd that both saws are more-or-less compatible with Bosch tracks – but that Mafell chose Metabo batteries instead of Bosch.
John E
Mafell had a brief flirtation with Bosch’s 36V battery line on their early cordless saw (KSS400, I think). For some reason it didn’t last long.
John E
They are completely compatible with Bosch tracks because Mafell makes both sets of tracks but paints one blue.
josh Morris
And their rails are fantastic, no stick on bits to fall off in the summer in my truck
Tom
Mafell makes more than just the tracks, they manufacture the Bosch corded track saw (GKT13-225L) but Bosch manufactures the cordless one (GKT18V-20GCL) themselves.
The ability to flip the depth adjustment marker the thickness of the track is a Mafell invention and Bosch can´t use that detail on the cordless one.
Frank D
Since Bosch continues to not bring more existing tools they sell to the rest of the world over to NA, I would not hold my breath. I had high expectations from this AmpShare announcement, but that’s just been it. How hard is to pack up some containers of existing products and ship them for sale to NA?
Nathan
So I thought the CAS system is the preferred system. Also do you think they have to do some UL testing or other to be sold in the US.
Ben
My understanding is that if you don’t want to get sued, you basically HAVE to have an electrical certification of some kind to sell any plug-in appliance in the US – here, that would be chargers. I’ve seen plenty of cordless tools that don’t have electrical certificates for the tool or battery themselves. Probably best to have it though, at least from a CYA and safety perspective.
Bill
I used to have a big interest in Bosch tools. Alas, I gave up on them because they never bothered to “keep up” with the competition. I love the idea, however, and think Stanley black and Decker should do it with their brands.
Tom
There are some niche power tools from other brands (Klein, Graco, ESAB, etc.) that use Dewalt batteries to power their cordless tools. I’m a bit surprised Dewalt doesn’t do more to promote this and actively market a shared platform to expand their solutions.
This makes so much sense, as no one tool brand can be the best at everything. And most of the big brands spend very little time or attention on niche applications where brands that are strong in these spaces can leverage their specific know-how without having to worry about the ever-increasing battery arms race.
Jim Felt
As Lowe’s appears to be their largest retail facing dealer I’m not at all surprised by this yet another NA market missed opportunity.
Lowe’s just seems so good at these kind of things.
And I like, if not actually prefer, some of the 18v and 12v Bosch tools* I have over my larger Red collection.
*Many of which I acquired directly overseas because of their dopy NA sales situation.
James
Totally agree. I love my blue tools. I expanded into red for plumbing specific stuff, and now have lots of red also, but if a tools is available in blue and red, it’s a coin flip based on reviews and pricing.
Even though yellow and red and Makita to some extent have greater variety, I find my Bosch tools to be excellent, both corded and cordless. I’m not sure they haven’t kept up as much as they are slow to market and focus on developing quality goods (at a moderate price point).
I was in the market for a cordless 1” SDS drill with on board dust collection last month; I picked up a blue kit for $500 CAD with 4ah battery, 2ah battery, 1” SDS drill with dust collector. Everything is fantastic; performance, ergonomics, look. feel, and the equivalent red version was easily twice the price.
My point is simply that I think with time we’ll see Ampshare develop, and it will produce quality options, although probably not as quickly or with as wide a variety of tools as some may want…
Also quick kudos to an old toolguyd post on SDS hammer drills that helped me size my needs properly..
Randy
They’re just hoping to get on the right side of the EU when it forces standardization
Robert
Agree. I see that coming down the pike in EU.
Nathan
And I think as of right now if they forced standardization next year the EU would make people adopt CAS system. I know Bosch is fairly large but C AS has a lot of players behind it that are also big names in their own fields
Joellikestools
I would love to see battery powered Feins in store with amp share. I want Bosch to come through with this.
Frank
I upgraded my Fein MultiMaster to the new AmpShare AMM 700 multitool over Black Friday. I am disappointed that the charger no longer has a USB port to charge my phone or thermal camera but am thrilled that I have batteries for days from all the Bosch tools I had picked up over the years.
Although it’s disappointing that the rollout for AmpShare tools is so slow, I don’t believe you’re looking at the purpose of AmpShare correctly:
Using Bosch batteries to power your tools is attractive to companies because they don’t have to spend money into the R&D of batteries and chargers for their product and can focus that time and money into their tools. Batteries and battery systems aren’t easy to just create. There’s a reason that you shouldn’t trust shady off brand knockoffs of official branded batteries. Signing on to Bosch’s system gives you their expertise, warranty, and makes your tool brand more attractive to customers when deciding on which tool system to buy into.
David
I see Menard’s is carrying Bosch AmpShare batteries.
James
Other than branding, is there any difference between a Bosch battery and an Ampshare battery?
Stuart
No. It’s just a different sticker.
Scott M
Check out acme, many kit options.
2 OMT’s (500 and 700)
2 die grinders
Bevel tool
https://www.acmetools.com/all/?q=Fein+ampshare