Have you wondered what a Makita cordless power station and charger will look like? Well, now we know.
Makita recently announced the BAC01 power station, and there’s definitely a lot going on here.
To start off, it’s advertised as delivering “powerful AC power for anywhere,” and features 2x 1400W AC outlets.
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Product photos show off the power station charging 2x XGT 40V Max batteries via a plugged-in dual port charger.
It does not have any built in charging capabilities, but can accommodate separate AC battery chargers up to the max power output wattage.
It has USB outlets, and plenty of them – 2x USB-A ports (2.4A), and 2x USB-C ports (30w).
Additionally, there’s a DC 12V 10A output via car-style power socket.
Note: All of these electrical specifications were announced for the Japanese model, which likely only affects the AC outlets. AC output specs might change depending on regional model differences.
Makita also adds that it can power site lighting at jobsites and other such environments where AC power might not be easily available.
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The BAC01 provides a pure sine wave AC output.
Or, use it to recharge smaller batteries for use with cordless power tools or outdoor power tools. This is more of a usage case for the PDC1200 battery bank than the PDC01 battery holder.
The BAC01 is built into a Festool Systainer-compatible Makpac tool box, making it compatible with Makita’s other Makpack tool boxes and accessories. It should be compatible with earlier generation and select current Systainer products,
Additionally, there are two side handles for easy transport.
The user interface appears simple, but clear and helpful, with indicators for output wattage, USB, AC, DC, and what seems to be an audible toggle.
Here’s where things get tricky. There are only two ways to power the BAC01 power inverter. You can use the PDC1200, Makita’s ConnextX 1200 Wh portable backpack power supply, or their PDC01, which can be equipped with (4) Makita 18V batteries.
The PDC01 battery holder retails for $699 in the USA, and does not come with any batteries, and the PDC1200A01 retails for $1379.
That’s on top of the price of the BAC01, which is launching in Japan for 89,500 yen (~$652).
It does not look like there’s any way to power this with Makita’s XGT 40V Max cordless power tool batteries.
Runtime is application-dependent. For instance, the PDC1200 will power a 1000W load for about 56 minutes, and the PDC001 with 2x BL1860B batteries will power a 750W load for about 10 minutes.
Makita’s spec sheet mentions that, if the output is 750W or greater, the PDC01 “may stop outputting due to the battery protection function.”
None of the product photos show the inside of the tool box, and so I would assume it’s sealed shut. Makpac tool boxes use the same latches for opening and closing as for connecting to other Makpac products.
In my opinion, this all looks great, except for how the power station and inverter looks to essentially require the PDC1200 battery pack. The BAC01 cannot be used to its fill potential when powered by the PDC01 4-port 18V battery holder.
By my estimate, the BAC01 and PDC1200 would cost somewhere in the ballpark of $2000 USD, given current pricing for the PDC1200A01 in the USA, and the launch price of the BAC01 when converted from yen to USD.
All of this makes the BAC01 more of an accessory for the PDC1200 portable backpack power supply.
Maybe additional battery holders are in the works.
There’s no top handle, but maybe the power supply can be carried single-handedly with one of the side handles, at least until the PDC1200 is attached on top. Speaking of which, the PDC1200 and PDC01 connection points do look a bit clever.
I’d say the new Makita BAC01 looks very well-designed, but also completely impractical.
At the time of this posting, the Milwaukee M18 Carry On 1800W continuous cordless power supply is $699, and M18 12Ah batteries are $249 each. If you want a dedicated setup, you’re looking at a ~$1700 price tag. Makita’s roughly $2000 estimates pricing isn’t appreciable higher.
Plus, 4x 18V 12Ah batteries gives you 864 watt-hours, or 960 watt-hours depending on whether you use 18V or 20V Max in the calculations. Makita’s backpack is built with 1200 watt-hours energy capacity.
Quite a few years ago, back in 2015, Bosch launched a mobile battery power bank in Europe. I wonder if we’re starting to get back to that idea.
The Makita really seems like a dedicated cordless power station solution to me, as you can’t simply swap in whatever 18V or XGT 40V Max batteries you want.
Still, this is a very interesting development.
Whether you bought into Makita’s cordless systems or not, is this something you would add to your kit?
At this time, there has been no word about whether the BAC01 will be launching in the USA.
Eliot Truelove
I have a PDC01 I got a few months back on Amazon for $230 and it’s brilliant, especially how it separates from the back plate and can be used as an independent unit to power 18v, 18vx2, and XGT tools. So this may be good for me if it ever hits here.
I really feel they will make an XGT style battery backpack as well soon. It may be a 2 or 3 battery backpack that can accommodate the massive 8ah batteries, otherwise a 4 battery backpack would have to have the PDC1200 form factor with the 4 batteries in a 2 by 2 grid as opposed to the longer PDC01 form factor which has the 4 batteries in line. An XGT only tool likely would only work with the 18Vx2 and XGT adapters though, and not the 18v adapter (like the PDV1200, which all promotional material says only outputs 36v power).
It really would be nice to transfer power from XGT to LXT batteries and vice versa, and the 1200w to both, all with some losses due to the DC to AC to DC switch if you run all 3 battery systems and are in a pinch. Makita also makes a DC cigarette lighter style vehicle slow charger for LXT batteries, so that may be a better way to charge if you’re worried about the losses and not worried about the extended charge time.
That being said, hopefully the Makpac style box only has the form factor and not the durability, because makpacks can be quite flimsy.
Overall, I think this is a step in the right direction
Jared
If I read that right you can charge the 40v packs but not use them to power this unit? That just seems weird.
I appreciate it’s not so offensively priced comparing capacity to the Milwaukee… but that’s assuming you buy 4x 12ah packs just for it. Surely you’d buy a powerstation from a power tool company because you had the batteries – or would make other use of them if you did. Otherwise just get a standalone unit.
If you already have the backpack, it makes more sense as an accessory. It just would be a lot more exciting if it were a powerstation compatible with 2x40v, 4x18v or the backpack… still not ALL, but at least MOST of Makita’s voltage lines.
Stuart
You can charge anything with a separate AC charger plugged into one of the outlets. There is NO built-in charging.
MKY
Stuart –
The Makita really seems like a dedicated cordless power station solution to me, as you cannot simply . ??? For best performance, you simply can’t swap in whatever 18V or XGT 40V Max batteries you want.
Whether you bought into Makita’s cordless systems or not, is this something you would ***act*** to your kit?
Stuart
Thanks! *fixed* I’m not sure what happened there.
Jason
The PDC01 would be great with Makita’s 8AH and 12ah batteries…oh wait
Harrison
As Makita does, they’ve gone about it in their typical off-beat way, but it looks like a fairly good solution. Obviously this makes the most sense if you have another use for the PDC1200 battery, which at this stage is targeted mainly at professional landscapers. The price isn’t terrible compared to other solutions on the market, pure sine wave inverters aren’t cheap.
From a contractor’s perspective I’d prefer it used 2-4 XGT batteries, but I can see the appeal of only needing to carry and charge the one unit. Also, there’s no reason you couldn’t make use of the PDC1200 + XGT adaptor to run a XGT miter saw with legendary run time.
My only complaints would be the Sys-1 Makpak- they are horrible and I wish Makita would adopt the newer standards. It would also be more enticing if the battery could stay attached/contained to the unit, and more systainers could remain on top while the inverter is in use. Imagine stacking this with a corded Festool CT-SYS and a Mirka Deros…
Also 1800w max would be preferable- I have a corded Dewalt miter saw and Skil SPT-99 table saw I rather like, it would be great to have a silent and fume-free solution to power them in a pinch. That said, the real solution to that problem is to invest in a more efficient cordless miter saw and eventually table saw, or jump up to a higher capacity power supply from Ecoflow etc that could handle 2500w+ peaks during startup and heavy ripping. If you’re just going to plug corded tools into it, brand doesn’t matter.
I haven’t used the Milwaukee unit, but I have doubts about heat and run time at 1800w. Given its max Wh is significantly less than this Makita, it would probably only run the table saw for 15 minutes, and overheat or shut off during heavy cutting. Would be interesting to hear from those who’ve used it, or the Dewalt equivalent.
Despite Makita’s 1000-1400 rating being a little disappointing, it’s likely a more honest reflection of what the unit can provide long term, and the sort of tools one should run off something like this. Given the expense of the PDC1200, I can see Makita wanting to play it safe and remain well within the battery’s discharge limitations.
Derek
These types of things will have to become more popular as areas start banning gas lawn equipment and landscapers will need to have a way to recharge their batteries on the go.
MM
I’m more interested in what appears to be a dual-battery 40V brushcutter in the background of one of those pics.
JB
https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/GRU05PM
Steve L
Think Makita made a very poor strategic decision. Unlike Dewalt or Milwaukee, Makita’s power station does not use proprietary tool batteries. If you are a Makita tool user there are no savings from the tool batteries you already own.
So loyal Makita users have no cost benefit in buying the BAC01. If you use any other tool brand there is no cost benefit. And if you are buying a power station for camping or living off the grid will you ever think of Makita?
To me this power station competes head on with the power stations made by solar / battery companies. And I think Makita will not be able to profitably compete long term with the offerings from Anker, Jackery, Yeti, Bluetti, or the next company to come down the road.
Harrison
It DOES work with 2-4 LXT batteries, which is by far Makita’s largest user base. There will probably be an XGT battery holder at some point as well, and obviously this would be an easy sell if you were a landscaper who already owns the PDC1200 backpack battery for your mowers. That’s really the justification here I think, a way to use the power stored in the PDC for other uses. I don’t think Makita is trying to compete on the mainstream market with the ‘battery generator’ companies.
I would say your argument applies more to Milwaukee’s MX Fuel power station for existing M18 users.
Steve L
I hear you. See it a different way
The 2x XGT 40V Max batteries plug into this power station for charging, they are not used to power it.
If the charging is the same as plugging into any other power station then there are no benefits to buying from Makita.
Which means Makita has to compete with every power station offered for sale.
The Milwaukee M18 power station (inverter) is powered by tool batteries. If you have the batteries you “save” by buying only the inverter.
Franco
Looks interesting, the BAC01 & PAC1200.
The whole cordless industry has really blossomed quite a bit in the past 10 years or so.
With the noise and 2 stroke engine bans, the growing EV car market, as well as new battery tech coming; gets me wondering 10 years from now where we will be.
I think the line about living in interesting times can certainly apply today, especially when we look at all the various battery uses today and coming. As well as where will big oil & the car industry be in 10 years.
Rick
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804095144607.html
Munklepunk
“looks very well-designed, but also completely impractical” has been Makita’s motto the last few years