Power X-Change - das innovative Akku-System von Einhell (mit Dr. Markus Thannhuber) - Episode 1

Ladies and gentlemen, in this episode I would like to introduce you to the battery and device platform for garden and power tools, Power X-Change from Einhell. My name is Dr. Markus Thannhuber, and as a board member I am responsible for production, development, and quality, and thus for innovation- and technology-driven innovations. With Power X-Change, we want to prove to you that powerful tools and garden equipment can already operate completely without cables. To achieve this, we offer high-performance lithium-ion batteries that not only impress with their energy content, but also with their continuous load, discharge capability, and peak load performance. A new battery management system is used, which controls the energy supply via a processor and also features numerous new innovative features. At the same time, we are convinced that the newly developed Active Battery Management System (ABS) sets new standards in terms of safety for lithium-ion batteries. With Power X-Change, we are talking about a true platform. Not because one battery fits into multiple devices, but because various batteries of different performance levels with different chargers are compatible with a wide variety of devices. Topics such as upward and downward compatibility were considered from the start. In addition, we have numerous options to integrate future innovations through intelligent technology interfaces. What does this mean for you as our user? You buy one or two batteries alone, or together in a starter kit with devices, and then purchase additional devices without batteries. This reduces your initial investment costs. Batteries age. This has nothing to do with Einhell, but rather with the electrochemistry in the lithium-ion cells. Batteries don't age in the first or second year, but afterwards. If you have many devices with device-specific batteries, you need to buy a new battery for each device after two to three years. With a platform, you get two new batteries and operate all devices as at the beginning. And this reduces your replacement investment costs. What technological approach is behind the platform concept? How do we ensure upgradeability, openness to new technologies, intercompatibility? That would certainly fill an entire episode, but I would like to at least share some essentials here. Behind the technological concept is the strict separation between the operation and protection of the cells in the battery pack and the operation and protection of the devices themselves, the motor and everything related to the device. Each battery has its own Active Battery Management System, which ensures safe operation under all load conditions. When a new cell technology becomes available, we adjust the parameters of the battery management system to the new cells. Each device also contains protection electronics that ensure safe operation of the device and, above all, compatibility with all Power X-Change energy sources. Thus, we have a separate development status for the battery and for the devices. We can bring more powerful batteries in the future, as well as more powerful devices. This allows us, for example, to achieve upgradeability in a dual sense. If you have an old battery screwdriver at home and buy a new battery with higher capacity, your old device delivers more. It drives in more screws per battery charge, for example. If you still have an old battery at home that has power reserves, and you buy a new, more powerful device, the old battery will deliver its full performance with the new device. A special feature of the Power X-Change platform is its ability to operate with two platform voltages. Power X-Change devices are available not only with 18 volts, but also with 36 volts. 18-volt devices are operated with one battery. 36-volt devices are operated with two batteries. This not only saves you from buying an expensive 36-volt battery with its limited application possibilities, but also makes the devices particularly safe and powerful. Why? The safety of a battery pack is directly related to the energy content stored in the battery and provided under protection by the battery management system. The legislator therefore limits the energy content of a battery that can be normally sold and distributed and used by the end customer to a maximum of 100 watt-hours. By using multiple separate battery packs, each independently protected, we can equip powerful devices with more than 100 watt-hours. This makes them more powerful than the competition without this technology. By the way, intercompatibility applies not only to batteries and devices, but also to batteries and chargers. Various charger variants are available, including fast chargers, so your batteries are ready for use again in the shortest possible time. Power X-Change is a platform that was created through intelligent engineering, high-performance components, and a solid technical, electrical, and safety design. Further details on the components used and the technology employed will be provided in subsequent episodes, if you are interested. Thank you very much for your attention.