Breakthrough battery technology for power tools

Graphene batteries are said to be the most advanced battery available, offering shorter charging time and longer charging cycles.

Owner and manufacturer of CAT power tools, Positec, has partnered with a leading manufacturer to introduce the high-performance solution to the market, with CAT asserting that it is the first brand to use graphene batteries in its cordless power tools.

Graphene batteries are said to offer higher electrical conductivity compared to lithium-ion (Lio-on) batteries, allowing for faster charging cells that deliver high currents. The high heat conductance allows the batteries to run cooler, resulting in an extended lifespan.

Graphene batteries offer a faster recharge time than Li-ion batteries, with charging time said to be only 18 minutes. The average Graphene charger cycle is 1 200 cycles compared to Lio-on at 300 cycles. Graphene-based batteries are also said to be safer than Lio-on batteries and are also more resistant and less subject to wear. Specialised protection is designed to guard against vibration, impact, water entrance and thermal runaway.

Ecore IQ is the so-called ‘brain’ of the CAT 18 V battery pack, helping to protect against maximum discharge current and maximum charging current, while also providing monitoring of individual cells for voltage reporting, temperature and state of charge.

The recently announced range of CAT cordless power tools feature brushless motors with claims of 10 times longer motor life, 25% more power and 50% more runtime. Graphene is featured on the DX13 80N.m brushless hammer drill with 5Ah graphene battery and 20 min 20-amp super-fast charger. The CAT 18 V cordless power tools lineup offers a choice of 2 Ah Li-ion battery, 4 Ah Li-ion battery, or 5 Ah graphene battery.

Features include:

• Graphene polymer lithium battery
• On-board battery capacity indicator
• Instant charging to full in 18 min
• High max discharge current
• Cool pack for continuous working
• Guaranteed five times longer charging cycle life
• Robust and resilient to extreme low temperatures

The new batteries also include a one year warranty.