I just read that Dept of Gov Efficiency has mandated that all battery powered tools sold in US adopt a standard battery platform by Jan 2026 using Positec's PowerShare (Worx) as a model. Is anybody taking this into consideration when tool shopping? It seems like a good idea, but I'd rather see it driven by market forces than a gov. mandate.

REVISION - Before posting Microsoft's AI agent Copilot responded that the battery standardization was real when asked pointedly "is the story fake". Today the same AI said it was satire. Asked what fooled it yesterday, Copilot avoided a straight answer.

Department of Government Efficiency is a real fed agency.

This post was edited on 10/16/25 at 3:41 pm

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Posted by diat150

Louisiana

Member since Jun 2005

47147 posts

Posted on 10/14/25 at 3:18 pm to Tree_Fall

seems like a great idea, another one would be standardized chargers for electric cars.

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Posted by Clames

Member since Oct 2010

18829 posts

Posted on 10/14/25 at 3:44 pm to Tree_Fall

There are already adapters out there but brands like Milwaukee and Makita have microcontrollers and proprietary code that datalogs battery usage to an incredibly detailed degree. The larger M18 batteries know exactly when manufactured, know the date you first charge the battery after purchase, how many times they've been deep cycled, charged, fast charged, gotten too hot, know which tools they've been connected to, how many times they've seen high current draw, and a dozen other metrics that Milwaukee can look at if you send one in for a warranty claim.

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Posted by Stat M Repairman

Member since Jun 2023

920 posts

Posted on 10/14/25 at 7:52 pm to Clames

Fan of the option of Milwaukee’s M12 for tight spaces.

Hope the government doesn’t botch this like they did the gas cans.

This post was edited on 10/14/25 at 7:53 pm

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Posted by Wtodd

Tampa, FL

Member since Oct 2013

68460 posts

Posted on 10/15/25 at 9:55 am to Stat M Repairman

quote:
Hope the government doesn’t botch this like they did the gas cans.

There is no chance the Government doesn't frick this up

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Posted by Tiger in NY

Neptune Beach, FL

Member since Sep 2003

31364 posts

Posted on 10/15/25 at 10:29 am to Tree_Fall

Where are you seeing this? I only see an article that is an April Fool's joke

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Posted by weadjust

Member since Aug 2012

15638 posts

Posted on 10/15/25 at 11:04 am to Tree_Fall

AI Overview

The claim that all battery-powered tools sold in the US will adopt a standard battery platform by January 2026 is false and appears to stem from a satirical article or a misunderstanding. While the idea of a universal battery platform is a topic of discussion, there is no current US government mandate or widespread industry agreement that will force all manufacturers to switch to a single platform by that date.

Origin of the rumor: The idea gained traction from a satirical article by Pro Tool Reviews about a fictional "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) mandating a single battery platform.

Current reality: The US does not have a single, mandated battery standard for all power tools. Individual tool manufacturers, such as DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Makita, each maintain their own proprietary battery systems to maintain their competitive edge and control the performance and features of their tools.

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Posted by jlsufan

Baton Rouge

Member since May 2021

385 posts

Posted on 10/15/25 at 8:43 pm to Tree_Fall

I'd settle for "common sense" gas containers