Bosch has announced their new Core18V 4.0Ah compact Li-ion battery pack, GBA18V40. It joins other Core-level batteries, such as Bosch’s 6.3Ah pack, and a 7.0Ah battery that was announced in Europe.
The new Core18V 4.0Ah battery features 21700-sized Li-ion cells. 21700 cells offer higher performance and longer runtime, leading Bosch to promote a new motto: Keep the Power, Lose the Weight.
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The Core18V series of battery packs are positioned as follows:
- Compact 4.0Ah
- Standard 6.3Ah
- Performance 8.0Ah (coming in 2019)
I know that this feature will make lots of users really happy – 5 battery fuel gauge levels. Ben and I were talking about this yesterday, and how one particular brand’s battery has been frustrating him, since he can’t tell whether the one bar means there’s 10% charge remaining, or 50%. Giving the compact battery 5 fuel gauge LED indicators is a nice user-friendly move.
The new Bosch battery pack features “CoolPack 2.0” technology, meaning Bosch designed the battery pack with better heat management, for longer battery life. They say that it can deliver up to 135 percent longer life, compared to conventional batteries without CoolPack tech.
This parts breakdown shows off the battery’s power rails, which are said to reduce resistance and improve power transfer efficiency, flexible circuit boards, which deliver added efficiency compared to rigid boards and connectors, and copper end plates, which offer a more conductive path from the battery cells’ terminals, for greater power output over longer periods of time.
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Basically, they built the new battery pack with all of the same features they developed for their higher performance 6.3Ah battery.
Lastly, why consider this battery pack over the “FatPack” 4.0Ah battery pack? Bosch says that it weighs 15% less. Performance and runtime is presumably comparable.
Price: $99 in the USA, $129 in Canada
ETA: Coming Soon
Compare(Bosch 18V 2.0Ah x 2 pack via Amazon)
Teaser
A FatPack Core18V 8.0Ah battery pack is said to be coming out in 2019.
First Thoughts
These new 21700-cell compact 18V battery packs are a step forward, in terms of how much power and runtime you can get from a 5-cell battery pack.
And while they are lighter than 10-cell battery packs of the same capacity, they are larger and heavier than lower capacity compact battery packs built from 18650 cells.
It’s a reasonable tradeoff, but keep in mind that this is just another new battery option.
Maybe you would rather run a compact cordless tool with one or two 2.0Ah battery packs (2 for $99, and eligible for a $20 off $100+ promo at the time this post was published).
Or maybe the standard 4.0Ah battery pack is a better fit, size-wise. It’s also currently $99 at Amazon, bundled with a charger for $82.08, or in a 2-pack for $149.
So for 4.0Ah charge capacity, you have the choice between two slimmer 2.0Ah battery packs, this new Core18V battery, or one of the 10-cell battery packs, which seems to offer a more economical path to the same performance and runtime.
I must admit, things are getting more complicated these days. Things were a little complicated when 15-cell battery packs started coming out. Now, you have even more options – compact 5-cell batteries, higher runtime 10-cell batteries, higher performance and runtime 15-cell batteries, larger cell 5-cell, 10-cell, and even 15-cell battery packs.
With time, it seems that these new larger-cell battery packs might become the norm, due to cost benefits stemming from current supply and demand trends. Then, things will likely be a little easier to sort through.
With this new Bosch battery pack, the on-paper benefit is that you get 10-cell power and runtime, but in a 5-cell package. But it’s also a larger 27100 form factor 5-cell package, which leads to size and weight considerations that only become apparent when holding a new battery pack in-hand.
One fault with my perception is that I keep visualizing these larger 5-cell battery packs paired with tools that are traditionally bundled with compact 5-cell battery packs. What I need to start doing is visualizing these new high-performance battery packs as lighter weight stand-ins for the 10-cell batteries that have been powered many heavier duty tools for years.
But, can they keep up? That’s still something that we’ve been trying to figure out. Can the performance match up when paired with heavier duty tools such as circular saws or reciprocating saws? I hope so, because there are some downsides when pairing these physically larger battery packs with compact tools, such as drills, impact drivers, and worklights.
All that said, ignoring what the future might bring, the new battery pack brings one more competitively-priced option to the table, and that’s a good thing.
fred
I vote for more workouts in the weight room – so you can use one of those Milwaukee 12Ah batteries at arm’s length while sawing upside down.
To be serious – more options are always nice – and maybe Bosch will step up their game with bringing more tools over to this side of the pond
Stephen
This is cool. I’ve been on the current Bosch 4.0 Ah batteries for a couple years.
It’s fine with tools like the circular saw and impact wrench, but it can be bulky and heavy when used with the drill. Especially since, for my needs, I don’t need the full runtime or power provided by the 4.0 Ah pack.
I’ve been thinking of getting one of the slim pack batteries just for the drill. I might just skip the new Core slim pack and wait for a discount on the current li-ion batt.
Stephen
Also, 5 LEDs for the battery is nice. To maintain battery health, like to keep my batteries stored as close to 50% as possible. Easier to do this with 5 lights vs 4.
I assume 3 lights on the scale would mean 40-60% charged.
A W
Why is it better to store them at 50% vs fully charged?
Gordon
It’s not. It’s more, urban legend, old wives tale, holdover from the dark ages of Ni-mh, or all 3.
Batteries die from use. Aside from abuse, there is little you can do to change that.
Jon Roesch
Actually it is bad to store Li Ion batteries in 100% SoC due to elevated voltage which breaks down the cells over time
Reflector
That’s untrue completely untrue to the point of misinformation/fake news. Lithium ion benefits from being stored at a SoC below 100%, if anything keeping them near 100% will significantly reduce capacity within a year.
I can’t find a specific article that is very concise right now but high SoCs combined with higher temperatures will accelerate the capacity loss of lithium ion batteries over time.
Page 15 of this PDF shows SoC + temperature on capacity
http://www.batteries2020.eu/publications/201509EPE15/Ageing.pdf
Much more academic, but there’s a test done at 0-100% SoC at multiple temperatures.
http://jes.ecsdl.org/content/163/9/A1872.full
The best you can do for cell storage is to stick a cell into a sealed container with a desiccant and have it at a low SoC. Somewhere below 60% seems to be the best you can do.
Reflector
Blah, forgot to put this part in: Sealed container in the refrigerator (Not freezer!)
andy
Yeah Gordon has it backwards. The myth/holdover from old battery tech is that it’s good to discharge them and charge them all the way. With Li-Ion it’s best (for longevity) to do neither.
Jim Felt
I’ve been using 6 of the 6.3 Core batteries for the past year or so and their run time in both steady use like stand mounted Bosch LEDs and hammer drill and regular drill use has been the best I’ve seen. So for.
I’ll have to wait for my older non Core batteries to fall behind before I’m likely to buy the new 4 Ah one’s.
Chris
Does Bosch have the best tech in their batteries right now compared to all the other brands? They seem to hit all the areas that will increase power and longevity. Really wish Bosch would/will start making some outdoor equipment.
Stuart
It’s hard to say. A lot of brands have invested heavily in the past few years, launching next-gen solutions.
Bosch’s tech is quite good, and I was impressed with the Core18V 6.3Ah battery pack, but I also don’t have a way to quantitatively characterize it.
Being able to push the latest-generation battery packs to their limits requires thousands of dollars in equipment, and more complex support and safety equipment due to the higher amperage and wattage capabilities.
On the tool side of things, Bosch is very competitive in certain areas (but not marketing efforts), but they could use some strengthening in the corded-like-power department. There’s no analogy to Milwaukee High Output or Dewalt FlexVolt, although they do have a new 36V platform.
Raoul
Curious to which battery has a better discharge rate between the standard 10 cell and compact 5 cell 4ah batteries. I always thought 2 rows of batteries discharge faster than 1.
Stuart
Looking at specs for the Samsung INR21700-40T 4.0Ah cell, it has a discharge current of 30A. This isn’t necessarily what the Bosch pack uses, but should be representative of current tech.
If I recall correctly. The 2.0Ah cells used in 10-cell 4.0Ah packs had 25A ratings.
In theory, a 10-cell pack could supply 2x the individual cell current, but realistically, they dont, presumably due to thermal dissipation limits.
Technically, 2.5A from 2.0Ah capacity is a higher discharge rate than 3.0A over 4.0Ah capacity – 1.25C vs. 0.75C.
Brian A
What ever happened to Bosch wireless charging, unless I have missed it, haven’t seen mentioned with any of their new battery packs. It was a horrible idea anyways.
Wireless charging wastes energy compared to plug in. My fav car company BMW came out with a wireless charging pad for EVs/hybrids, which is the biggest oxy moron ever.
Stuart
Those batteries and charging accessories are still available.
It’s a good idea for certain users.
Steve
When do you think Makita will catch up on battery tech? As a user with 23+ skins I’d love to have some compact 3.0/4.0’s and even some high demand 7.0/9.0 similar to what Metabo/Milwaukee/Dewalt/Bosch are offering? Makita are very quick at bringing out these 1 of a kind, unique tools but from what I can see are way behind in battery tech! We can’t even buy the 2.0’s here in Australia!
Stuart
Good question, one that Makita USA might not even know the answer to.
Alick
I like lightweight tools so i’m biassed towards compact single row packs. Have a bosch 18v 2.0Ah pack which I like and have been watching for them to update this so I could buy some more compact packs using latest tech. A 3.0 single row was announced over a year ago by Bosch germany and all the core / eneracer advertising shows a “family” of different size packs, but the compact is super scarce. The official bosch uk site didn’t list it. It only seemed to be available from a couple of internet stores at more than double the price. Now a 4.0 Ah single row announced. Bosch need to stop messing about and get the products into stores whatever the country.
Some of their tools have good design and ergonomics and are strong contenders if you need what they’re good at.
Nick Marques
I’m really interested in getting some of these newer batteries. I’m mostly on the original 2Ah and a couple 4Ah.
What do I gain by getting a 6.3Ah vs a couple 4Ah? Is it strictly more runtime, or also more higher power (speed, torque, etc)?
Does anyone have discharge plots for the various batteries? I’m more inclined to buy more of smaller cells if I can keep one or more on a charger and swap as required. I don’t need to have on charge for the whole day.
Randy
Can you charge the GBA18V40 with a BC630 ? There is nothing on their website to say Yes or No.
I tried charging the Core18V4.0 on my BC630 and after 15 sec. the Red light comes on and stops the charge.
Stuart
I don’t see why it wouldn’t. Were you just using the battery? If so, it might have required a cool-down before charging could commence.
Randy
No, I just purchased it from Lowe’s and pulled it out of the package. It only had one light on the battery power level, so I put on the BC630 battery charger. The charger started flashing Green and the cooling fan kicked on for 15 sec.’s then the Red light came on and the fan quit. I tried it three times, all with the same results.
I went and got my BC660 charger and it did charge the battery.
Stuart
Hmm, that does sounds strange. I’ll check with Bosch to see what they would advise.
cody
Same thing happened to me today. Bought two of the 4.0 cores from Lowes (on sale for 59$, I might add) and one repeatedly showed red on the charger, but only after charging to 4/5. I couldn’t get it to top up that last 1/5. I shrugged and used it anyway….plugged it back in when I was done…and voila. No more red temp light. Charged fully with no problems.
Stuart
Bosch responded with:
“All Bosch 18V batteries are compatible with Bosch 18V chargers. The user in this case should ensure this is a Bosch charger and not aftermarket.”
Sounds to me that the battery might be defective – I’d return it for a refund or exchange. If the second battery does the same, then maybe it’s the charger?
Peter
Just something I realized today because I normally lay down my drills because they tip over so easily but with the larger foot print of the battery they do not tip over that easily anymore and the only tool so far they did not work with is the hand held vacuum.
Tate nasty
Just herd today that Bosch is working on a 12.0 battery and a dual pack powered breaker hammer and table saw!!!
Jack Braddell
Just purchased the new CORE 8.0 that came with one of the five charge indicator lights on ( 1/5 ) of a charge showing. Plugged it into a one week old charger which works perfectly with all my other CORE batteries and went to sleep, woke up with solid non blinking red light on. Pushed indicator button and it showed four out of five green. Now I have placed it on a different new charger and it is flashing green while charging for the past 45 minutes. Although still flashing green, I took it off and now it shows five (full charge) indicator lights. I with I had a flashlight or other tool which can be left on all day such as a fan to entirely drain battery and re-charge again too see.