We recently posted about a new Ryobi 9.0Ah battery that a reader brought to our attention. Now, Rob (thank you!) has brought our attention to a promo video for the new batteries.
In that video, we get a first glimpse at new Ryobi 18V One+ High Energy Li-ion battery packs in 3.0Ah, 6.0Ah, and 9.0Ah sizes.
It looks like the battery cells received an upgrade, from an 18650 cell form factor to something larger, such as 20700.
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It’s said that there’s over 20% greater electrochemical reaction volume per cell, which translates to cooler-running battery packs that can deliver more power for longer compared to Ryobi’s lower capacity battery packs.
How much cooler? They say 25% less heat is generated.
All this is explained in a promo video uploaded by a 3rd party. They seem to have also been contracted for several Milwaukee Europe videos. I guess all the videos were uploaded as part of a public portfolio.
Although this means the info comes from an unofficial source, the source seems to be partnered with Ryobi, Milwaukee, and TTI for promo video production, and so we’re inclined to trust it.
The video also describes how there are 4 tabs instead of 2, allowing the 3.0Ah compact battery pack to be used on more power-hungry tools such as saws and angle grinders without suffering a hit to performance. (How? Why?)
To be frank, I don’t think I’ve seen or used a Ryobi compact battery pack – only their higher capacity 4.0Ah packs – and so I don’t think I’ve even considered whether some Ryobi 18V tools would suffer a performance hit when paired with smaller form factor batteries.
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The promo video uses some disagreeable language, such as “energy highways.” And they say that one 3.0Ah Lithium+ High Energy pack is equivalent to up to three 1.5Ah compact battery packs without providing supporting context.
They also say that you can “instantly upgrade the performance of all your One+ tools,” and so I assume the 6.0Ah and 9.0Ah packs are built with similarly larger-than-18650 battery cells.
There are questions about how these batteries are better than current battery packs, and exactly how. But as they’re built with larger cells, there’s no question that they are better. Don’t worry, we’ll dig and prod for more the details and ask plenty of hard questions. But that’s just because we’re curious and we know some of you are too.
In short, new batteries are coming to Ryobi’s One+ lineup, and they’re boasting of longer runtime and better performance.
First Thoughts
As long as the price is right, WooHoo!
See Also: Ryobi 18V 9.0Ah Battery on the Way?
Thank you to Rob for finding and sharing the video!
https://vimeo.com/202733359
Nate818
TTI is an interesting company.
fred
Might we think that they will be paired with the upcoming Ryobi cordless (2-battery) mitersaw – to try to make it more of a pro tool?
Stuart
The new miter saw will be released as a bare tool.
KnarlyCarl
Why is it most of their tools only sell as bare?
taras
Because they gear themselves to the serious DIYer. They’re not as likely to be buying kits and needing multiple batteries the way a tradesperson does. It’s easier for a DIYer to expand their collection piecemeal and tailor their collection to their own needs.
Stuart
Cost? To give buyers the ability to piece together a kit of one’s choosing?
To avoid logistics headaches of packaging, stocking, and maintaining multiple SKUs?
glenn
To make more money of course!
ktash
More reasons:
They have various battery specials all the time, making the batteries relatively inexpensive. Early on I got 4 of their larger lithium batteries for $25 each, a pkg deal left over from the holidays that was marked down in the clearance section.
The bare tools make the accessories affordable when you decide to get them. I think their battery strategies are highly successful with DIYers/hobbyists, like me.
Having bought a number of their tools that did include a charger/batteries, I have more chargers than I typically use. Loathe to pay for another charger if I want a tool.
dave
Because being backwards compatible, people are investing in a collection of several tools running off the same battery packs, but don’t need, nor want to pay for, as many battery packs as they have tools.
It makes sense, how many tools do you typically use simultaneously? Probably a number lower than the total # of cordless tools you have, so not all needed to come with a battery, and especially another charger too.
KnarlyCarl
Absolutely, Ryobi is so underrated for this and some of their oddball but great niche tools!
Benjamen
Ryobi is claiming over 800 cuts with the P194 which is probably the 9.0Ah
e. baker
It’s definitely a European-made promo video…as evidenced by the 5.0ah battery & the appearance of the bare tools at the end.
Which, unfortunately means that it might be quite a while till we see the 3, 6, and 9ah batteries here stateside.
Seems the Australian and European market tend to get the Ryobi goodies first and then us.
Not complaining…just wishing they’d hurry up and release these new higher capacity batteries.
Stuart
Maybe, but the 9.0Ah battery is directly referenced in the new miter saw’s press release. So I’d guess at least that one is on the way.
Patrick H
The model number referenced in the manuals from the earlier post are definitely consistent with the US format instead of the European format so I remain optimistic.
Pete
Other than their basic drill and impact with poor ergos im failing to see how ryobi is a “diy brand” anymore. Its just not a “super pro” brand.
JR
Well, they sure seem to be all in on the 18V line. I expect the 40V outdoor toolset to be disco’d soon leaving us users out in the cold.
I was really hoping to see a charger/powerbank for the 40V line so we could use our batteries for emergency power during outages or emergencies. I would even buy a combo 18v/40v version.
Ct
Even if they did cut the 40v line all we need to do is series 2x 18v batteries and we can run on 36v . Would be too surprised if an adapter of that type became available
Anton
Finally.
Although the only tools I’ve noticed a performance difference between the baby packs and 4ah is the leaf blower and inflator. Hopefully the price stay low. 2x6ah for $100?
Stuart
2x6Ah for $100? That seems unlikely to me. Maybe even impossible. In the first year or two, there would be none available, with demand very much imbalancing supply.
I’d expect a price of $150 for 2 batteries, but it will probably be more. I figure 50% greater capacity, at least 50% greater price. But realistically, it could be higher. I think that $75 per pack is going to be too low. $79.99? It’s hard to say, but I think this seems too low.
Pete
Their 2-4ah packs when theyre are on sale are $100. And $100 for 1-4ah battery otherwise.
I’d bet $180 for a single 6ah battery. And on sale 2-6ah batteries for the same $180.
Stuart
I don’t remember seeing it change from $99 since at least the last winter holiday shopping season. It doesn’t seem to be a “special price” anymore.
Pete
Your probably right. We have a TTi sales rep that works M-F at our home depot and i bet he hides them….
When their two tool and get the battery starter kit started all their 2-4ah combos went missing that same day. And i was there the day before.
Jason
Ryobi can’t sustain that kind of price point. It’s probably not going to be $100 but I imagine more $120 to $140 potentially. Milwaukee M18 6.0ah packs are only $149, and that’s pro brand pricing. I don’t think any other prosumer Diy tool company has a 6ah pack yet to see where the market is going. Lowes was going crazy with the pricing on battery packs for the new 24v line. 1.5 packs for 10 bucks.
dave
Not impossible. They were using low (by today’s standards) 2Ah 18650 cells while others are using 3Ah 18650.
Their 4Ah pack with 10 cells could change to a 6Ah pack with 10 18650 cells still, for a single-digit $ price increase, which they might round down to $100 for psychological marketing reasons…
Even selling something at cost, you want to sway a new customer to your line of tools or your competitor gets the sale. Eventually you will make money off that customer except for the most frugal and patient of them, which are the ones that won’t be buying many new tools in the first place.
Ryobi can pull this off because they’re drifting into prosumer space while the contractor grade brands, are now exceeding the needs of pros, costing more with diminishing return on investment.
We all like moar power and performance but with top of the line tools, there are fewer and fewer applications where it’s actually needed. Cordless tools have just gotten so much better over the last 30 years.
Dave
‘Energy Highway’ the larger/more conductors will reduce the resistance/heat letting to battery run cooler/longer.
Rob
Yea it had to do some digging to find this information, but if you pause it on just the right spot in the video you can see the last digits on the cell say 1865, which is inconsistent with their claim to the larger cells in the battery. It could be a mistake, but it also could possibly be the LGHG2 18650 Cells that Milwaukee uses in their 6.0 and 9.0ah batteries. Only time will tell, my guess is we don’t see these for another year, which sucks considering the P108 debuted in 2012, so we have been waiting a long time for a bigger battery. Me, well I got tired of waiting and I made my own 6.0ah batteries a long time ago and am loving it.
Stuart
There’s no way the cells can be 18650 while also featuring “more than 20% greater volume.”
It’s likely a minor slip-up by the production company.
Rob
Yea i would agree and would hope they make the move to the 20700, it will be a nice bump up. That coupled with the extra large battery tabs we should see some nice gains in battery life and a little in performance. Now for the waiting game….
John
Ryobi Rep here, just to clear this question up… These are in fact 20700 cells. I personally asked the presenter at a meeting in March. However, I was not given an exact release date.
Thanks for all your support Stuart, and thank you to all the great users out there!
JR
Thanks for stopping by. Any word on improvements to the 40V line, or is it as I feared soon to be discontinued?
John
They continue to improve & add to the 40v line. I don’t see them abandoning it anytime soon.
I’d ask for the contact info of the TTi/Ryobi rep at your Home Depot store to further inquire.
Pete
Hopefully you have your email notifications on for your post- any update on release dates? I NEED some more batteries and want these big boys!
John
I have yet to see further developments.
Jerry
I’ve got their 1/2 inch impact wrench and it definitely has less power with the compact batteries. My hammer drill seems to as well, but its not as obvious.
me
Mine gets hot or over current and battery just shuts off-also with recip. You can have three charged batteries, and have to swap between them as the circuit breakers reset. These are the cheapest small lithium batteries.
dave
Why 4 contacts instead of two is to cut in half the contact resistance so you have half the voltage drop and resultant heat, both of which you want to avoid.
The connector could be redesigned instead, along with the packs, but then you lose their forte, backwards compatible tools and batteries.
Pete
Staurt! Any update on release dates on these?!
Pete
Staurt! Lol stuart!
processwrench
Anyone here any updates to when these batteries might get released? It seems Ryobi has been releasing all kinds of new stuff, almost seems they’ve skipped over this.
Stuart
Nothing yet.
Handy Andy Ruskington
As a Ryobi One Plus heavy (Professional Full Time) user for almost 21 years, I have also had my ear to the ground on the upcoming Ryobi gear. It seems TTI has taken notice and seen a market for both the ‘Home Gamer’ and the ‘Professional’ with the Ryobi Brand. It does somewhat bridge the gap already….
Here is what I found from the land that never gets much above freezing 😉
If you speak something other than the mother tongue then use google translate…..
http://ryobi-instrument.ru/
P.S. It’s all there 3.0AH, 6.0AH and 9.0AH ‘High Energy Lithium Plus’ 18V
P.P.S Look through the PDF Catalogues, they have some interesting insights, think the pro line will be all ‘Brushless’ as evidenced in the toes in the water limited lineup of brushless gear been tested on the shelves of the UK right now……..
Jason
I wonder if these packs are DOA or what. They were teased a long time ago. I wonder if Home Depot decided the price points were not going to work. Also shipping higher capacity lion packs is an issue.
Stuart
Probably after the holiday season at this point. Or they might be mulling over final details, or waiting for better pricing on the battery cells. Since it wasn’t officially announced in the USA, it’ll be hard to find out more.
Doresoom
Maybe they’re trying to clear out as much stock of the 4Ah batteries during the holiday season as they can, prior to releasing the new ones. It would be nice if the two pack of P108’s would stick at the current $79 price point too.
Curtis
Sure doesn’t appear to be the case. The $99 2 packs of 4ah batteries seem to be long gone. Fortunately I loaded up on them when they were $89.
kythri
Check out the pictures here:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-18-Volt-One-7-1-4-in-Circular-Saw-Bare-Tool-P508/301848641
Saw shows a 6Ah battery in it…
Dan
Just spotted 9ah ryobi battery in a picture of a guy holding a brushless 18v blower vac in the online Australian bunnings site.
Kevin
I live in the US and have the 6 pack charger, but I am going to Australia where they already have the 9ah battery on sale. Anyone know if it will work with the US charger or if there is some type of smart circuit in the US charger that will prevent it from charging the higher capacity batteries?