Battery platform: 1 battery for all of your tools

Every brand has one or more battery platforms. Bosch Groen, for example, provides the (garden) tools with power with the Power for All line and Makita has the LXT platform. For tools from the same line, the batteries are exchangeable, regardless of the type of tool. This means you can use your 18-volt Metabo Ultra M battery for your 18-volt cordless drill and for your jigsaw or leaf blower.

The main advantage of universal batteries is that you only need 1. Or maybe 2 to have extra power on hand during long jobs. When you count in the battery platform for which you already have batteries at home when purchasing new tools for at home or in the garden, you don't have to choose a complete set. A 'separate body' is enough in that case. In addition, batteries last longer if they're used regularly. This way, you'll enjoy them longer. Also not unimportant is that it's better for the environment too.

Is there really nothing you should pay attention to? Yes it is. For example, the voltage of the battery must match the tool. A 14.4 volt battery does not fit on an 18 volt drill even though they belong to the same platform of the same brand. The amperage of the battery is also something to keep an eye on. The lower the amperage (1.5 Ah), the faster the battery loses power. So if you plan to spend hours working on a DIY project, then opt for a high amperage of 5.2 Ah, for example.