Dewalt has come out with a new 20V Max 2.0Ah battery pack, which is said to provide up to 33% more runtime than their standard 1.5Ah batteries.
The 20V 2.0Ah battery (SKU DCB203) is priced at $89 via authorized dealers, or $129 for a 2-pack (DCB203-2)
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Features and Specs:
- 3-LED fuel gauge
- 33% longer runtime than standard 1.5Ah battery packs
- 35-minute charge time
Compared to the 1.5Ah battery pack, DCB201, you get 33% more runtime but the battery pack only takes 5 minutes longer to recharge (35 mins vs. 30 mins). It looks like the 2.0Ah battery is the same size as the 1.5Ah battery, and any weight difference should be unnoticeable.
Dewalt’s 20V 4.0Ah battery pack will also soon be available in the USA, seeing as how their newly released 20V Max metal-cutting saw comes with two of them.
Both 2.0Ah and 4.0Ah batteries feature Dewalt’s XR branding, which we’re told from unofficial sources will be a distinction given to Dewalt’s higher performing 20V Max products, a la their 18V XRP tools.
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As of April 2013, the 1.5Ah battery has an MSRP of $79 and average street price of $65. Alternatively, you can get two 1.5Ah batteries for $109 or a 3.0Ah battery for $99.
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Javier
Atleast this one has a fuel gauge. Not too crazy about the longer charge time. I think they should come up with a new charger that charges atleast as quick as the 1.5 ah packs.
Wooters
Got the 12v drill set will this fit in the dril
Stuart
No, 20V packs and 12V packs are NOT compatible. You can use the 20V chargers to recharge both battery sizes though.
mnoswad1
Wow. Dewalt is really marketing new and exciting stuff in a very timely manner.
How will the other cordless companies ever be able to play catch up I wonder.
Jason
Nearly everyone has 2.0 and 4.0 ah battery packs out Milwaukee, Ryobi, Bosch have both, and Metabo has 6.0 ah battery packs out.
Stuart
As Jason mentioned, many other brands are also coming out with high capacity battery packs, with a couple already on the market. As far as the new developments being timely, there have been a lot of delays. Their metal-cutting circular saw was delayed a year, and their brushless framing nailer is being delayed nearly a year as well.
In terms of cordless tool brands, it’s hard to say who’s in the lead and who’s playing catch-up, but it doesn’t seem to me that Dewalt is leading the rest. Milwaukee, Bosch, and Makita, have been holding their own or better.
mnoswad1
maybe i was being sarcastic?
Stuart
That’s what I thought, but it’s so hard to tell!
Jason
Sarcasm is a hard thing to read on the internet.
mnoswad1
My friends complain that is even harder to tell in person.
Jason Offret
I’m so ready to jump full in and invest fully into the 20v line, already have 6 tools, but it worries me how frequently other brands change their battery compatibility
Stuart
I don’t think the major brands will change compatibility anytime in the foreseeable future, unless or until there is a significant advancement in battery cell technologies. Even then, most brands will do whatever it takes to ensure compatibility.
Jason
Yea I don’t see it changing much now that everyone has moved on to slide on packs. They can change the ah by just adding different cells. Plus I think the larger voltage lines are a dead end except for being used on coredless sds drills.
fred
Jason said:
“I think the larger voltage lines are a dead end except for being used on coredless sds drills”
I think that I thought so too – until we started using 36V circular saws up on the roof – for us they reall outperform their 18V counterparts
Stuart
A lot of users really love their 36V tools. Makita’s new 18V X2 36V rotary hammer helps avoid the need to maintain two separate platforms, and I seriously hope this technology can be expanded to other products and maybe even other brands. Higher voltage tools aren’t dead yet, and there’s enough of a user base that brands will continue to market and support them.
mike
Can these XR batteries be charged with the regular 20v charger??
Stuart
Yes.
mike
2.0 ah battery pack?
mike
Thank you!
Peter
If a 20v charger will also charge a 12 v batt will it work vice versa? (Will a 12 v battery charger also charge a 20 v battery?)
Stuart
Nope.
Dewalt’s 20V Max chargers are specially configured to fit 20V Max and 12V Max battery packs, except maybe the ones included with certain holiday special drill kits. Their 12V Max chargers are 12V Max-only.
Peter
thanks
any idea on charge times; 4 AH vs 2 AH?
Stuart
35 mins for the 2.0Ah, and 70 minutes for the 4.0Ah.
Gary Dunaway
Can you use the 20v max lithium 2.0a batteries on a dewalt 20v max tool that comes with a dcb201 battery?
Stuart
Yes, you can, I believe that the DCB203 battery can be used on any Dewalt 20V Max tool.