Dewalt has been more heavily promoting their PowerShift cordless power equipment platform, which includes a core drill, concrete screed, plate compactor, and other such products.
PowerShift is basically Dewalt’s solution to Milwaukee MX Fuel, which launched in 2019, over 5 years ago.
Milwaukee has expanded their MX Fuel cordless tool platform over the years, with new tools and even higher powered and longer-running batteries.
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Dewalt took their time and came up with a slightly different strategy.
Whereas Milwaukee has different MX Fuel battery options ranging in price from $379 each to $1149, it looks like Dewalt has just one, priced at $849 each.
But you don’t need to buy Dewalt’s $849 PowerShift battery. Shown here is the PowerShift core drill, which is kitted with 2x FlexVolt 15Ah batteries. With a separate adapter, the same batteries can be used with the other PowerShift tools.
As Big Richard discusses in the comments, the PowerShift core drill is really a FlexVolt tool that becomes a PowerShift tool only when you add the DCPS151 drill stand.
You won’t get anywhere close to the runtime as you would with a PowerShift battery, and I suspect there could be performance limits, but it’s a way to power (some?) of the tools and equipment with a battery priced at $379 vs $849.
When it comes to cost per amp-hour, Milwaukee has an MX Fuel FORGE 8Ah battery (72V x 8Ah = 576 watt-hours) for $849, compared to the Dewalt PowerShift 10Ah battery (554Whr rating, 54V x 10Ah = 540 watt-hours).
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The MX Fuel FORGE batteries feature tabless Li-ion cells and Cool-Cycle tech that allows for rapid charging – as little as 45 minutes.
The PowerShift battery fully recharges in “under 52 minutes.” Dewalt doesn’t disclose the battery cell type, with no mention of traditional or tabless Li-ion cell architecture.
Whereas Dewalt has focused solely on the concrete industry, at least for now, Milwaukee’s MX Fuel light equipment system is much broader, with portable power solutions, a site light, plumbing tools, and more.
Milwaukee MX Fuel is definitely ahead when it comes to breadth of solutions.
But we’re not focusing on the tools here, just the batteries.
Dewalt only has a single PowerShift battery size, but the compatibility with FlexVolt 15Ah batteries via separate adapter is an option.
The dual-platform compatibility doesn’t save users much on initial investment, as every tool I checked is only available in a kit with 2 PowerShift batteries, with the core drill being the only exception.
With Milwaukee’s MX Fuel platform, different tools are kitted with different batteries and 1 or 2 depending on the product. Many, if not all, of the tools are also available without any batteries.
Is the FlexVolt to PowerShift adapter a sizeable advantage for Dewalt? Looking at the little marketing language I could find, they say:
Use DEWALT FLEXVOLT batteries on DEWALT POWERSHIFT equipment for additional runtime.
There’s not a lot of info about the FlexVolt adapter. But just look at the numbers – the PowerShift battery stores 554 watt hours of energy, compared to 270 or 300 watt hours of a Flexvolt 15Ah battery, depending on whether you use the nominal or “max” voltage in the calculation.
FlexVolt batteries are designed for smaller tools. The 15Ah battery came out nearly 4 years before PowerShift was announced. Dewalt makes barely any mention of the FlexVolt to PowerShift adapter.
The lower capacity and least expensive MX Fuel battery can also be used for additional runtime while your main battery recharges.
For more demanding tools, which essentially describes both platforms, the Dewalt FlexVolt 15Ah battery seems more like an “oh no we need to charge our Powershift batteries!” stopgap. I’ve had time to think about it, and it definitely seems good to have, but I’m not sure I would consider it an advantage.
It could be a moot point, as few Dewalt retailers are carrying the FlexVolt to PowerShift adapter (DCAFVPS) yet.
Milwaukee’s highest capacity FORGE tabless cell battery and fastest Super Charger with Cool-Cycle tech requires greater investment than if you need a spare Dewalt battery and charger, although there is a bundle that shaves the price down a little.
The MX Fuel system has matured over the years, and PowerShift is still in its infancy.
In regard to cordless light equipment and tool systems, is it better to have battery and charger options?
Dewalt PowerShift Batteries and Charger
- 10Ah battery
- 550W charger
- FlexVolt 15Ah via battery adapter
Milwaukee MX Fuel Batteries and Chargers
- 3A battery
- 6Ah battery
- FORGE 8Ah battery
- FORGE 12Ah battery
- Rapid charger
- Super charger
It’s unclear if you can use other FlexVolt batteries, but it seems inadvisable at the least.
Do you prefer Milwaukee’s approach with MX Fuel, or Dewalt’s with PowerShift?
As an aside, we’re still waiting to see what happens with Dewalt Ascent and PowerEquip, which was teased about more than 2 years ago as a “total electric landscaping solution” centered around a 3.2kWh battery and subscription program.
Big Richard
Just adding a little extra clarity. The core drill (DCD150) is actually not a PowerShift tool, it is 60v FlexVolt tool and runs off FlexVolt batteries only. However, there is an optional stand (DCPS151) that you connect to the tool at the battery connection, and THAT runs off a PowerShift battery. So, handheld it’s a FV tool, on the stand it’s a PS tool. It’s a little goofy.
Stuart
Yes – thanks, I tidied the language a little bit. It’s a PowerShift tool that natively works with FlexVolt batteries, but becomes a PowerShift tool when used with the drill stand.
Standalone, it’s still advertised as a PowerShift tool, but it doesn’t work with PowerShift batteries without the stand.
Big Richard
I’ve only seen it advertised as 60v MAX tool, not specifically FlexVolt or PowerShift.
But it has FlexVolt branding on it, is kitted with FlexVolt batteries, and does not have the PowerShift model prefix (DCPS) like all the other PowerShift tools, so I consider it FlexVolt tool. Semantics, I know, I know. It is still part of the greater PowerShift platform:
“When you add the DCPS151, the 60V MAX* 3-Speed Core Drill becomes apart of the DEWALT POWERSHIFT(TM) line for the ultimate choice for tough coring applications”
Stuart
I’ve seen it described as a PowerShift core drill kit, and as 60V Max without specific FlexVolt or PowerShift mention.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhArEH799wQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lhsyBeCCIs
Travis
Vcg had a video talking to Ricky from Dewalt and he said it has pouch cells
Jason M
As an aside, we’re still waiting to see what happens with Dewalt Ascent and PowerEquip it does feel like it went up in flames and then was never talked about again
MM
Did Dewalt have any new tools during World of Concrete or were they showing off the same things they had previously announced?
Big Richard
Hardly. They sorta teased the new metal cutting circular saw, DCS383, I don’t think they had any demos of it or anything like that. Otherwise they had the nailers (announced last year at WOC), PowerShift stuff, and the dual Flexvolt backpack blower (announced at EquipExpo las fall). At least that’s all I saw from press releases and a couple social media posts.
Eddie
What size is this metal cutting circular saw? I want a 5 7/8 but a i also want a 9″ to replace 1 of my last corded tools. Ive been waiting for 1 from dewalt for years. Ran a makita 1 for awhile and now metabo hpt. The dewalt 5 1/2 didnt have enough depth of cut
Big Richard
7 1 /4″. Here’s a little more info on it, with some pics – https://www.tradetools.com/dewalt-18v-xr-184mm-brushless-cordless-metal-cut-circular-saw-skin-dcs383n-xj
Greg Schalk
The new power shift core drill is 10x better than the mx fuel I own both and there is a massive upgrade on the powershift model
neandrewthal
So is it a 550W charger or a 554 watt-hour battery? With a full charge time of 52 minutes, something doesn’t add up. DeWalt has a habit of listing impossible watt-hour ratings.
Big Richard
It’s based off the battery being at 15%. The battery has 4 LEDs:
4 – 76%-100%
3 – 51%-75%
2 – 26%-50%
1 – 16%-25%
1 Blinking – 15% or less
They recommend charging when you get to the 15%, which would be around 83.1Wh remaining. So when you are charging, you are recouping 470.9Wh to get back to full. 470.9Wh / 550W = 0.856 hours or 51.3 minutes. They rounded up to 52 minutes.
Random
All FlexVolt batteries work in the adapter but the DCB615 will give the longest run time.
Curtis
Powershift batteries contain pouch battery cells.
MM
That’s what I read too. Maybe, just maybe, people will stop parroting the notion that pouch cells can’t work in high power applications?
Eddie
Yea i agree. Wheres flexvolt powerstack? And flex 24v has 10ah pouch cells and it is there most powerful battery
Curtis
Is Powershift on the shelves in the US? We need to wait until March for ours in Canada!
Curtis
Word from the DW reps I talk to is that “Dewalt Ascent and PowerEquip” has been shelved for now. Rumor is that Powershift has something to do with it. These Powershift batteries weren’t around back in 2019. Now DeWalt has a large battery (albeit not as big as those Ascent batteries!), so they may choose to go into landscaping with it..
Big Richard
I think the fire had more to do with it than PowerShift. That was a serious blow. If anything they just shifted dollars and R&D towards PowerShift, not that PowerShift would replace Ascent/PowerEquip.
But its absence at EquipExpo this last October spoke volumes, it is definitely on hold.
Eddie
It baffles me how they did not come out with a 14″ demo saw. I thought that would have been the most popular. On another note theu should do flexvolt 14″ demo saw. Work off 1 or 2 batteries like the snow blower and come with 2 15ah
Harrison
Personally, I think Dewalt is on the right track. The adaptor and interchangeability should provide *some* foot in the door with Flexvolt users. Anecdotally, all of the concrete crews I’ve worked with have been Dewalt heavy. The 60v saws are a bit clunky and coarse, but very powerful- excellent for powering though used form-boards. For what it’s worth, the PowerShift tools look well-rounded, similar to the design and ergonomics of existing light equipment. The MX Fuel tools I’ve handled have all felt a bit ‘off’, like Milwaukee was reinventing the wheel instead of following established precedents.
That said, I’m still a bit skeptical that power tool companies are going to compete with established players in the light equipment space. If for example, your construction company has a good relationship with the local Wacker Neuson dealer, why wouldn’t you buy a battery plate compactor from them? Gas, electric and battery light towers already exist for use on building sites in a range of sizes and outputs.
I’m also not convinced that battery ecosystem “lock-in” marketing applies to large industrial customers the same way it does with consumers. I think there is also a good chance that proprietary lithium NCM packs may not be cost competitive vs. commodity LiFePo4 batteries and a universal charger. Once equipment reaches a certain size, it may make more sense to follow the established path of electric forklifts, pallet jacks and golf carts.