In today’s tool industry, from household electric screwdrivers to industrial heavy-duty electric drills and outdoor garden lawn mowers, tool batteries play an indispensable role as the energy core that drives these tools to operate efficiently. With the continuous advancement of technology and the increasing demand for convenience and efficiency, tool battery technology is constantly being innovated. The types of batteries are becoming increasingly diverse, and their performance is getting stronger and stronger. Please provide the text you want to be translated.
I. Types and Characteristics of Tool Batteries
(1) Nickel-metal Hydride Batteries
Nickel-metal hydride batteries once held a certain market share in the field of power tools. They have relatively high safety, good consistency, and can achieve discharge rates of 15C or even higher, which makes them suitable for the high current requirements of power tools. Moreover, in terms of production and manufacturing costs and market prices, nickel-metal hydride batteries are more competitive than some lithium-ion batteries. However, nickel-metal hydride batteries have some obvious shortcomings. Their energy density is lower than that of lithium-ion batteries. In the same battery pack space, the capacity of nickel-metal hydride batteries is smaller than that of lithium-ion batteries. At the same time, nickel-metal hydride batteries have poor low-temperature performance, self-discharge issues, and memory effects. These factors have greatly limited their further development in the power tool market, resulting in a very low market share at present. Please provide the text you want to be translated.
(2) Lithium-ion Batteries
Ordinary Lithium-ion Batteries
Ordinary lithium-ion batteries are a common type of battery used in power tools nowadays. To meet the high current requirements of power tools, these batteries must have high-rate discharge performance. However, due to cost and material limitations, ordinary lithium-ion batteries actually struggle to achieve high-rate discharge. Consumers often encounter this situation when using relatively inexpensive lithium-ion batteries for power tools: the power tool performs well right after being fully charged, but the power drops significantly after a period of use. Additionally, ordinary lithium-ion batteries have average high-temperature operation performance, which also affects their lifespan. Please provide the text you want to be translated.
Lithium iron phosphate batteries
Lithium iron phosphate batteries have demonstrated unique advantages in the application of power tools. They have excellent high-temperature resistance, outperforming other types of lithium-ion batteries, and can achieve discharge rates above 30C, achieving relatively ideal results in both normal and wide temperature ranges. Compared with nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries have better low-temperature performance and energy density, longer service life, and no memory effect. However, there are still some technical shortcomings in lithium iron phosphate batteries at present, such as relatively poor consistency and slightly inferior safety of battery packs compared to nickel-metal hydride batteries. Please provide the text you want to be translated.
Lithium polymer batteries are a relatively high-end type in the category of power tool batteries and are relatively expensive. They have a high energy density and excel in achieving ultra-high discharge rate performance. This is due to the use of some high-energy-density rare materials and the high requirements for production and manufacturing technology. However, lithium polymer batteries are not perfect. Their internal high-temperature performance is slightly inferior to that of lithium iron phosphate batteries and similar to that of nickel-metal-hydride batteries. Please provide the text you want to be translated.
(3) Cylindrical Lithium Batteries
Cylindrical lithium batteries are widely used in the field of power tools. They have a relatively low cost, a mature manufacturing process, high consistency, and good heat dissipation performance. These advantages make them suitable for mass production and high-demand small power systems, such as power tools and light electric vehicles. In power tools, the commonly used cylindrical battery models are 18650 and 21700. Generally speaking, the larger the battery specification, the more internal materials it has and the greater its nominal capacity. With the continuous improvement of the rate performance requirements for tools, the usage proportion of large-sized batteries in power tools is gradually increasing. Currently, cylindrical batteries are still the main type of lithium batteries used in power tools, but some brands have begun to adopt pouch cells to obtain higher capacity and smaller volume. Please provide the text you want to be translated.
II. Market Application Areas of Tool Batteries
(1) Outdoor Tools Field
With the increasing popularity of camping, fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities, the demand for outdoor tools is also on the rise. Lithium batteries, with their excellent portability and long battery life, have become the ideal power source for outdoor tools. For instance, power saws, power drills, and power screwdrivers, among other outdoor operation tools, can provide users with convenient power sources by relying on lithium batteries, meeting the usage requirements of tools in complex outdoor environments. In the outdoor tool market, the application proportion of lithium batteries is constantly increasing and the market share is relatively stable. It is expected that in the coming years, the proportion will remain high. Please provide the text you want to be translated.
(2) Garden Tools Sector
The acceleration of urbanization has driven the vigorous development of landscaping projects, and at the same time, residents’ investment in home gardening has been increasing day by day. This has led to a sustained strong demand for garden tools. Electric lawn mowers, electric hedge trimmers, and other garden tools have been widely used due to the high performance of lithium batteries. Lithium batteries provide stable and powerful power for garden tools, improving the efficiency and quality of garden work. The garden tools market follows the outdoor tools market in terms of the proportion of tool battery application fields and also shows a stable development trend. Please provide the text you want to be translated.
(3) Industrial Tools Sector
In industrial sectors such as manufacturing, maintenance, and construction, the use of power tools like electric screwdrivers, electric wrenches, and electric drills is extremely common. With the continuous advancement of industrial automation and intelligence, the performance requirements for tool batteries are also increasing. Lithium batteries, with their high performance and long lifespan, play a significant role in the industrial tools sector, helping to enhance work efficiency and reduce labor intensity. The industrial tools market is one of the important application areas for tool batteries, and with the continuous progress of industrial technology, the demand for batteries in this sector will continue to grow. Please provide the text you want to be translated.
(4) Other fields
Apart from the above-mentioned major fields, tool batteries also find applications in niche markets such as medical devices and aerospace. In the medical device sector, equipment like electric wheelchairs, electric hospital beds, and electric massage chairs rely on tool batteries for stable power supply, which not only enhances the quality of life for patients but also reduces the size and weight of the devices, making them easier to carry and operate. In the aerospace industry, the application of tool batteries helps to reduce the weight of equipment and improve flight efficiency. Although these niche markets currently account for a relatively small proportion, their growth potential should not be underestimated as related technologies develop and application scenarios expand.