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Battery compatibility across brands has been on the wishlist of many a woodworker over the years, and a new alliance announced today is going to make that a reality for 15 different brands. The new platform, called AMPShare, is powered by Bosch and includes founding partners FEIN Power Tools US and Rothenberger USA, plus 12 additional brands that will be launching throughout the next two years.
For those of you currently using the Bosch platform, your current batteries will work in future tools, and the new AMPShare batteries will likewise work with the 18v tools you already have. The partner brands will each choose their strategy going forward. Fein has announced that they’re going to convert their entire lineup to AMPShare and provide support for their existing 18v battery line for the next 5-7 years. On the other hand, Rothenberger has no plans to discontinue their existing platform but will instead offer both, accommodating their current customer base as well as those looking to switch. Interestingly enough, Rothenberger is currently on the CAS battery system, a Metabo-based competitor of sorts to the AMPShare platform that is more common in Europe.
Currently, the AMPShare system is limited to the 18v battery platform. Bosch’s 12v platform will continue to use the existing branding and no partners are being added there.
The other brands announced so far include HONSEL, Ledlenser, Mato, Medmix Cox and MK, Orgapack and Signode, PerfectPro, Steinel, Bosch Rexroth Corp, Titan, and Wagner. Most of them aren’t involved in the woodworking space, but our readers in the trades might recognize the names. The AMPShare alliance was also clear that they’re interested in adding more partners, so it’s quite possible that number will go up over time. I wouldn’t put odds on any of the other major tool brands jumping on anytime soon, but there are a lot of midsized players in the market and it would be a benefit to both those brands and consumers to be part of a bigger ecosystem. Only time will tell.
If you’re curious to learn more, there’s a live-streamed event on YouTube at 4pm CST this afternoon.
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