Bosch’s wireless inductive charging system, which allows their specially equipped 18V Li-ion batteries to charge while still attached to a drill, driver, or other similar free-standing tool, incorporates some promising technology, but has been met with some criticism from tool users.
Here’s a first-look at the Bosch wireless charging system, a more detailed look at the specific components, and our brief review where I discuss the good and bad. There are some great reader insights and opinions in the comments sections of those posts (as usual).
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Note: This was only announced in Europe; there are no USA release plans as of yet.
The biggest complaint I’ve seen so far is that the wireless charging base and drill/driver base are beneficial for stationary users, but far less practical for workers that travel to and from different jobsites. This new accessory – a wireless charging L-Boxx bay – is designed for professional tradesmen who are on the move.
Bosch’s prior wireless charging base and holster are designed for workshop and use in industrial settings. This new charging bay is designed for mobile environments. Still, Bosch makes mention of repair service technicians and others who work directly from their car, and so it’s not quite aimed at all types of on-site workers.
The new Bosch L-Boxx wireless charging bay is designed to be installed in work van racking, or any other similar arrangement, and can wireless charge a battery while it’s in an L-Boxx. That’s right, it’ll charge a wireless-equipped battery through the L-Boxx!
Although Bosch’s press materials don’t explicitly mention it, it seems that the battery must be disconnected from a tool such that it is oriented flat-side-down in an L-Boxx. It also sounds like a special positioning tray must be used in the L-Boxx.
A requirement for inductive charging with the “Wireless Charging L-Boxx Bay” is the matching three-piece inlay set of the L-Boxx. It absorbs impact, protects tools, batteries and accessories during driving, and simultaneously secures the batteries. All L-Boxx models available with inlay will be labeled with the “Wireless Charging” logo from now on.
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Starting in September 2015, all L-Boxx 2’s will ship with a compatible insert that allows for wireless charging in the L-Boxx charging station. The insert will also be available separately so as to retrofit your prior L-Boxx 2’s.
Here’s another benefit – it can simultaneously charge 2 batteries, and not just 1.
Bosch says that the new wireless L-Boxx charging bay is shockproof, and can hold an L-Boxx that’s loaded with up to 10 kg (22 lbs) of weight. The charging bay can be installed horizontally, such as in a Sortimo vehicle equipment system as shown, or vertically. If installed vertically, an L-Boxx is “clicked in.”
The charging bay features a voltage inverter and is connected to a vehicle’s 12V DC power system. It can also be connected to an on-board 230V socket. This is a good time to mention that the Bosch L-Boxx charging bay has been announced for the European market. There’s no word about if or when we’ll see it in the USA.
Bosch’s 18V wireless batteries have fuel gauges, but there’s also a charging indicator on the L-Boxx charging station, so that users can check charging status without having to open their tool box.
Price: €299 (~$337) for the wireless L-Boxx charging bay, €15 (~$17) for an L-Boxx 2 insert for retrofitting boxes sold prior to September 2015.
Lastly, a 4.0Ah wireless charging battery will soon be available, and I have received confirmation that it will be released in the USA as well.
First Thoughts
There are lots of things about the new L-Boxx charging bay that I like. Most significantly, it can simultaneously charge 2 batteries, and it can do this right through the bottom of an L-Boxx. You can check charge status just by glancing at the indicators on the L-Boxx charging bay.
But… it’s designed to be installed in the type of vehicle racking that doesn’t seem to have taken off in the USA. And it’s designed for users that work in and out of their vehicle. It’s probably not going to be very useful for workers that only travel to a jobsite in the morning and home in the evening.
On the other hand, you can install it vertically, and one source I read says it comes with shelf and wall-mounting brackets. With charging brackets, you can get pretty creative in how and where you mount the charging bay, and so it’s not just limited to Sortimo vehicle equipment racks.
If you ask me, Bosch should also come out with an under-side mounting bracket, so that the L-boxx charging bay could be mounted beneath a workbench, tool cart, or shelf, although that would probably pose too many complications for holding batteries in a good position for charging.
It is priced at over $300, and it’s unclear as to whether it even comes with an L-Boxx 2 with fitting insert. It doesn’t seem to come with any Bosch wireless charging-capable batteries either.
I know that a lot of you are thinking something along the lines of: What about me? This won’t benefit me or the way I work at all. Well, Bosch, what else do you have up your sleeve?
Nathan
it’s a neat idea – and I can see the appeal. I would have perfered they made a charging box for just batteries, but more on that later.
with the base it sounds like you’d need an Lboxx, well OK if you’re a bosch drill/driver person you either have one or want one anyway for travel. so minor issue.
so additional to your normal chargers, you’ll have to lug around this Lboxx sized base plate – probably need to screw it down if I had to guess. and feed it power from somewhere.
If I was dewalt or Milwaukee right now I’d be working on a small charger built into a bag/box for say 2 batteries – that also has a weather seal and an automotive rated seal pack wire connection for the vehicle power and one for 120Vac.
you can charge your batteries out side, in a protected case – maybe with a pad lock hole – in something that would easily fit in the cab of a truck and not take up room – or sit screwed to a rack in a work van . . . . . . not be so dependant on having and using a special tool box system.
Stuart
The base plate isn’t designed to be carried around, it’s designed to be mounted to a vehicle, or something like that. Think of it as a docking bay. The L-Boxx and tools go to the job, and then return to the charging bay when it’s time to drive home or to the next job.
Mike
I didn’t see any advantage to the previous inductive setup, but this I can see a use for. Put your tools away at the end of the day, drive home and back to the job site the next day, and your batteries are charged up. If it could charge a whole tray of batteries it would be better but having two topped off batteries would give me plenty of time to work while charging spare packs at the site.
bob
Reading the comments from the other posts about Bosch’s wireless charging, I’m amazed at how people tend to think “it’s not good for my specific needs so its stupid and they shouldn’t waste any time doing it.”
As an (amateur) woodworker, who does most of my work inside a shop i think it’s a great system. A battery that charges every time I put it to rest in my bench, so I can use a small and lightweight 2 amp battery all day long? The tool never getting weak and slow interrupting me when I’m holding two odd pieces at an odd angle and have just gotten it right?
Count me in!
I’m a professional photographer and it’s the same thing among photographers: “high megapixel is stupid because people only see pictures at computer screens” or “who needs cameras that shoot video?”
Come on guys, if it’s not for you, don’t buy it but you can’t you really see the benefit?
bob
Sorry for the language and typing mistakes. Not a native english speaker.
Stuart
Yes, that’s unfortunately a common attitude that more specialty tools typically tend to receive, but it’s also natural for users to consider their own tool needs and usage habits first and foremost.
I didn’t notice any language mistakes in your comment. Even if they’re there, no need to apologize!
fred
With most things in life “time will tell” . A new tool idea may prove to be a stupid flash in the pan , a good but short-lived marketing success, the profitable basis for the next generation of tools or something else. Over my 40+ year career – we tried out many tools that we decided were not for us – some going on to be mainstays. Some other new tools were judged to be great by some crews and terrible by others – sometimes hard to believe they we using the same tool for the same job. Other tools that we liked a lot – were short-lived in the marketplace – I guess a humbling reminder of what our opinion was worth.
Blogs like ToolGuyd – give readers the opportunity to see what’s new in the market and offer opinions based on their varied perspectives. I personally think that readers comments are often informative and food for thought. Obviously such comments represent opinion biased (as we are all) by experience and personal predilections. If readers and even manufacturer’s take the time to read these they may use them like they might a focus group – to help better inform their decisions.
bob
Agreed.
bob
It’s natural to have a bias, and I’ve learnt a lot both on articles and comments on this site and others. I just think people should recognize their own bias and say “it’s not for me” rather than “it’s lame”.
Chrisk1970
ive got three wireless chargers in my shop for my 4 batteries. I’ve also got the new fast charger for my 4.0s. Would love to see the 4.0 come in wireless. I love the setup and ease and like the previous writer, I am a hobbyist and DiY type and those tools are always at the ready in a convenient location in my shop.
Stuart
As mentioned, the 4.0Ah wireless charging battery IS coming to the USA.
Garrick
Doing the math:
Time saved:
Instead of removing the batteries from the tools, and locking them into a regular charger… say 4 batteries at the end of a day. Time 40 seconds. Attaching them to the tools at the beginning of each day, and loading the tools into their respective L-boxes. Time 60 seconds. So 500 seconds per week, or 8 minutes saved. Value of time equals $5 (per week)
Cost:
I will need 2 of the chargers: $700 (depending on taxes) Estimated life: 5 years or about 230 weeks of work. 230 x $5 equals $1150. So, savings equal $450 over the 5 years. Now, there are other costs, such as space needed for the somewhat larger stands over conventional chargers. Also there is a premium to pay for the (4) wireless batteries of about $200. So let’s say a total savings of about $200.
Change any one of the variables, and the math will provide different outcomes.
I would also have to be dedicated to the Bosch 18 volt tool system, which I am not (my 18 volt tools are Makita), and be sure I would be using these tools every working day… So, not for me… as yet.
Toolfreak
Since you can only charge two batteries at a time, this seems like a pretty big waste of space if you need to dedicate the area for an entire L-Boxx base just to stick two batteries in an insert on one side.
I’d say Bosch really should have made it so you could charge at least THREE batteries, which fit side-by-side in an L-BOXX, or better yet, made a one-piece insert to fit NINE 18V batteries in an L-BOXX.
If I can only fit two batteries, there really isn’t much advantage here unless you just like the cosmetics of having the batteries inside the L-BOXX. Even if that’s the case, you could stick the base chargers in an L-BOXX and get a better use of space.
I’d rather have two of the base chargers – or one for each battery I own. I can have 8-9 of them with batteries, taking up less space than this bay system.
I get that the bay can probably only handle the current to charge two batteries, but if this is aimed at commericial customers, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to think that this would be something they’d rather use to store batteries in at the end of the day for charging, or to grab a charged battery from and put in a weak one, not for use as a dedicated charger. Bosch could have made this so the charging was slower for more batteries, or even to where you could choose to fast charge only one battery.
Martin
Coming soon in Europe: http://www.bosch-presse.de/presseforum/details.htm?txtID=7398&tk_id=112 a BIG battery, no need for noisy petrol generators.