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Milwaukee Tools Boost Their Battery Power

Tom McKenna, senior editor

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Redlithium batteries from Milwaukee promise longer run times and more power. These are the standard 12v and 18v batteries.

Courtesy Milwaukee Tools

If you want even more juice and life, step up to the XC line, available for both 12v and 18v tools.

Courtesy Milwaukee Tools

Milwaukee's 3/8 in. M12 drill-driver is now sold with the new Redlithium batteries. Shown is the compact version.

Courtesy Milwaukee Tools

Milwaukee's 18v right angle drill, with the XC battery installed.

Courtesy Milwaukee Tools

Redlithium batteries from Milwaukee promise longer run times and more power. These are the standard 12v and 18v batteries.

Photo: Courtesy Milwaukee Tools

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Milwaukee Tools has revamped its entire 12v and 18v cordless line, with the introduction of what the company calls a new generation of lithium batteries: Redlithium.

Boasting more power and longevity, these new batteries will be featured on all new cordless 12v and 18v tools, the M12 and M18 product lines, respectively. But that’s only part of the news. The Redlithium batteries work with the previous generation of M12 and M18 tools, so you can swap out the older lithium batteries with the new ones. You also can get Redlithium batteries with a higher capacity (the XC line), which the company claims adds even more run time. You won’t need a new charger, either, because the new Redlithium batteries are compatible with the older chargers.

Replacement batteries for the M12 line cost $49 ($79 for the XC); batteries for the M18 line cost $79 ($129 for the XC).

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Comments (7)

lpower writes: i wish someone wd produce lithium batteries to replace the old ni-cads . i have three perfectly good drills but the old batteries have packed up .
Posted: 9:38 pm on April 7th

lpower writes: i wish someone wd produce lithium batteries to replace the old ni-cads . i have three perfectly good drills but the old batteries have packed up .
Posted: 9:38 pm on April 7th

AmazingMatt writes: Thanks Steve, I'll have to look into that.

Matt
Posted: 7:28 pm on April 5th

saschafer writes:
@AmazingMatt,

There has been a rash of Li-ion battery infant mortality during the last year or two. Assuming it isn't too late, you should be able to get your dead ones replaced under warranty.

I bought a Makita drill with two batteries about a year ago. One of the batteries died after the third charge, and so I brought the whole kit into the service center. The technician ended up replacing both batteries; he said that even the one that was still working wasn't taking a charge properly.

So far so good with the new batteries, but I haven't used them that much.

-Steve


Posted: 11:09 am on April 5th

AmazingMatt writes: I hope they last longer than the old ones. I have six of them (the small, old ones) and three of them won't charge. Don't know if I'm doing something wrong but short of shorting them out (no pun intended) what can go wrong? And does anyone know if the Rigid and Milwaukee batteries are inter-changeable?
Posted: 10:56 am on April 5th

rev_jdholmes writes: It is clearly stated on the boxes - usually along the side of the front in a big black and red bar.

Make sure it does, in our region of Home Depot's only a few of the tools have come in with it so far.

Also, FYI, we are receiving new Rigid batteries as well which are made by Milwaukee.
Posted: 5:22 am on April 5th

Geoff_Briggs writes: I was just looking to buy a couple tools from the M12 line. How can I make sure I'm getting the Redlithium batteries and not old ones?
Posted: 4:25 pm on April 4th

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