From leaf blowers to coffee machines – a closer look at Einhell’s battery system
3-4-2026
Translation: Katherine Martin
Pictures: Anna Sandner
This unassuming, black-and-red block powers everything from pruning shears to vacuum cleaners to coffee makers. But what makes the tech inside Einhell’s Power X-Change battery stand out? What other devices does the brand have in store for consumers? To find out, I went to its press event.
Nymphenburg Palace, Munich. Inside the Palm House, the setting’s elegance is slightly tarnished by the presence of about 20 tools for DIY, outdoor activities and gardening. But these tools happen to be the exact reason we’re gathered here. At this press event, Einhell’s showcasing its latest products, dedicating most of the limelight to its Power X-Change (PXC) battery. I’ll soon find out why.
The vision of a universal battery
To kick things off, Daniel Ritt, Head of Brand Management and Communications, gives a PowerPoint presentation. A promotional video on screen outlines Einhell’s vision of cordless freedom; one PXC battery for all devices. Today, it already covers several hundred tools used by amateur and professional DIYers alike in homes and gardens. The presentation features prestigious partnerships with FC Bayern Munich and the Mercedes Formula 1 team. With a grin, Ritt explains that the F1 team uses Einhell leaf blowers to cool down hot engines in the pit lane. It’s a nice anecdote – one that intends to illustrate that Einhell’s tech holds up, even under extreme conditions. And that the brand has the right device for every job.
However, the brand, traditionally best known for featuring in local DIY stores, now aims to expand into the outdoor and lifestyle markets. After all, if you can run everything on the same battery back, why not use it to power an outdoor coffee maker or a speaker too?
Splash! Demo proves safety promises hold water
The next demo proves that the battery does more than just fit into any Einhell device. This time, it’s all about safety.
Chief Tool Instructor Elke Beekmann explains that the batteries contain cylindrical lithium-ion cells. Apparently, a thick rubber coating protects them from being damaged if they’re dropped. During this explanation, Beekmann stresses several times that the sealed PXC batteries are completely dust- and water-resistant. To prove her point, she suddenly drops the battery into a bucket of water on a nearby table. Splash! Under the audience’s horrified gaze, she calmly fishes it back out, slots it into a cordless screwdriver and starts up the tool. Evidently, the battery’s unscathed. The demo’s a real crowd-pleaser, proving all the more convincing thanks Beekmann’s genuine enthusiasm.
But is this just a well-crafted marketing pitch? Or are Einhell batteries really that special? After doing my homework, I found out that in today’s power tools, batteries containing cylindrical lithium-ion cells are, in fact, standard. The real innovation is the waterproof casing. «TÜV Rheinland» awarded Einhell’s new sealed batteries an official IP57 certification in 2024, confirming they’re protected against harmful levels of dust and temporary submersion. Its underlying system’s also snagged first place in independent comparative tests. In its November 2020 issue, consumer magazine «Stiftung Warentest» named the PXC battery (2.0 Ah version) its «test winner», with durability and safety being key factors in the decision (linked article in German).
Declaring war on incompatibility
With the theory out of the way, it’s time for the highlight of the event. After knocking back their aperitifs, the invited journalists finally manage to get their hands on some devices.
Everybody’s handed one of the much-touted PXC batteries, then unleashed on the saws, pumps and vacuum cleaners set up by the door. It’s a clever PR move, as it allows the company to put its money where its mouth is. It’s saying «Here’s your battery, now look at all these devices you have at your disposal». Given the countless batteries and chargers piling up in people’s basements, this is an enticing concept. The Power X-Change product family’s core promise is to provide one battery for everything. Pop it into one device, and the tool will start working. Take it out, and you can use it to power something else. Then do the same thing again. With this in mind, I start working my way through the variety of tools, from cordless pruning shears to a battery-powered screwdriver.
From vacuum cleaners to coffee makers
Einhell’s deliberately put a wide range of test devices on display, encompassing everything from outdoor coffee makers to water pumps. Its stick vacuum cleaner seems to hold a special fascination for people. Journalists attending the event are so enthralled by it that they immediately pitch in to help the cleaning staff at the café, diligently vacuuming the wooden floor. The hoover’s dual-jointed, motorised floor nozzle is an especially big hit, as it allows for super easy manoeuvrability between the café tables.
Even beyond floor care, the sheer variety is astonishing. I try out a saw, get a polisher up and running and check out an outdoor coffee maker. My first impression of all the devices is that they’re robust and well thought-out. They’re also comfortable to hold and run smoothly. I’m already pondering which ones I’d like to test out more rigorously in my garden. However, my personal highlight (and lifesaver) at the event turns out to be small and unassuming: a USB-C port for the PXC battery. You simply plug the adapter into the battery pack, then charge your phone via the USB or USB-C port. Since my phone’s about to die, this works out perfectly for me.
French presses
EUR65,88
Einhell Cordless coffee maker " TE-CF 18 Li-Solo " Incl. stainless steel cup
0.24 l
The clever strategy of comfortable dependence
Einhell’s decision to widen its product portfolio beyond just traditional tools to include everyday devices such as USB adapters, fans and coolers is part of a strategic market expansion plan. The system’s also scalable; ambitious DIYers can use the same battery pack for more powerful «pro» tools without having to set up additional, expensive charging infrastructure. To round off this self-sustaining system, Einhell’s even launched a solar panel and charging station. In the coming weeks, I’ll be putting it through its paces.
There’s a clear business case underpinning Einhell’s expansion into new product lines and higher price points. Once consumers get used to cross-system convenience at home and on the campsite, they’ll gradually replace their existing devices from other manufacturers with Einhell devices. Rather than single tools, the company’s selling a closed infrastructure. A typically lucrative lock-in effect, combined with prices that, according to the company, are 20 per cent lower than the competition’s. If its batteries and devices actually live up to their marketing claims, both sides could ultimately benefit from this synergy.
The real test is yet to come
The event made a positive first impression on me. The battery ecosystem’s well-designed, the devices are comfortable to hold and they seamlessly do what they’re supposed to. Playing with products among the Nymphenburg Palace palm trees, however, only provides you with one staged snapshot of things. To arrive at a genuine, valid verdict on these products, we need uncontrolled conditions. So that’s exactly what I’ll be setting up over the coming weeks. Far removed from any PR glossiness, I’ll be subjecting Einhell’s devices to miserable Hamburg weather and the sandy dirt of my back garden for an extended period. Let’s see how they fare.
Which device should I push to its limits in this hands-on test? Let me know in the comments.
Anna Sandner
Senior Editor
Anna.Sandner@galaxus.deScience editor and biologist. I love animals and am fascinated by plants, their abilities and everything you can do with them. That's why my favourite place is always the outdoors - somewhere in nature, preferably in my wild garden.
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