Editing Power tool (section)

=== Battery types ===
Different battery powered power tools often use batteries which are not compatible across brands and models. This may cause [[vendor lock-in]], and results in poor [[sustainability]] if and when either the battery, charger, or power tool component fails, resulting in potentially all having to be replaced.

Examples of battery differences include the battery technologies themselves, with [[nickel–metal hydride battery|nickel-metal hydride]] (NiMH) and [[nickel–cadmium battery|nickel–cadmium batteries]] (Ni-Cd) being common previously,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.drillsanddrivers.com/batteries/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218184927/http://www.drillsanddrivers.com/batteries/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 18, 2016|title=Battery types}}</ref> but as of 2021, [[lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion batteries]] have become the ''de facto'' standard for new power tools. The [[voltage]] is one of the most important factors for battery compatibility. In simple terms, a higher voltage rating on the tool often means that the power tool can deliver more power, with all else being equal. Using a battery with the wrong voltage rating may damage the tool, persons, or surroundings. As of 2021, 18-volt battery packs are the ''de facto'' standard in new power tools. The [[ampere-hour]], in simple terms, tells something about how long the power tool can operate before it needs to be recharged. If comparing two batteries with the same battery technology and same voltage rating, a battery with twice the amp hour rating should last about twice as long. In practice there may however be some variations to this. Also, batteries with a higher amp hour rating in practice can also often let the power tool deliver a slightly higher peak power due to the ability to deliver a higher current.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Even when using the same battery technology, voltage rating and amp hour rating, the interface of batteries for power tools are often not compatible across different manufacturers, and sometimes also not even within the same brand or product line. There are examples of aftermarket adapters being made so that the user can mix and match batteries between well-known brands, but these often do not fully implement the tools battery safety and monitoring systems and the use is done at the user's own risk.