I've heard that the 8Ah and 4Ah Powerpack tabless batteries are now available, which got me thinking. There was a ton of discussion leading up to their launch, but I haven't seen any updates about a tabless Flexvolt battery. The current 12Ah models still use the old Samsung 40T cells, and I think it's clear they'll need an upgrade at some point. Tabless cells are not only more powerful and long-lasting but also cheaper to produce. Does anyone have any insider info or seen any news on this? It would be nice to see some prototype photos leak again!
3 Answers
I haven’t heard much about a tabless Flexvolt yet, but considering they’re moving units of the other tabless batteries, it seems likely they’re planning one. I wonder if they’ll carry the Powerpack name too. I have to disagree about the 40Ts being awful though; I’ve been using my 12A batteries hard, and they've been holding up just fine! They last a lot longer compared to the 9Ah batteries I had before.
Yeah, leaks have been pretty quiet lately, but a tabless Flexvolt has felt like a given for some time. DeWalt's release schedule can be maddening. Still waiting for any news on that deburring tool too!
I saw that the 4Ah Powerpack tabless is listed on DeWalt’s website (look up the **DCB2104C** kit), but I can't find it for sale anywhere yet. Just seems to be in kits so far, no dedicated sales yet.
Yeah, I think they have the part number out there, but it’s mostly bundled in kits right now. Just haven’t seen many standalone options yet.
I think using a blower isn't a good test for battery stress, though. I've had the 40Ts in more demanding tools like angle grinders, and they really struggle. I've burned through several and had to get them replaced under warranty. The only reason my latest one is still alive is that I’m super careful with it. I never had problems with other Dewalt batteries, so I'm convinced the 40Ts just don’t cut it.