Which STIHL Battery Range is Best For You?

HLA 66

At STIHL, there are battery-powered tools for every task, so whether you’re a home gardener or a professional user, you’ll be sure to find the right tool for the job. We offer four different ranges of cordless power tools, but how do you know which range is the one for you? You don’t want to buy a domestic machine for a professional application! Take a look at our guide to make sure you invest in the right STIHL tools for you.

STIHL AI LINE – CORDLESS TOOLS FOR SMALLER GARDENS

The AI Line is STIHL’s range of battery-powered tools for use by homeowners with smaller gardens. These products are extremely lightweight and have straightforward handling, making gardening jobs easy to complete.

There are 3 products in this line of battery-powered tools:

The BGA 45 cordless leaf blower
The FSA 45 cordless grass trimmer
The HSA 45 cordless hedge trimmer

Each of these machines has a built-in battery with a port on the tool itself to charge it. You do not need to purchase a separate battery or charger with these tools.

THE STIHL AS SYSTEM – CORDLESS TOOLS FOR GARDEN CHALLENGES

The AS System tools are compact, light and easy to handle. They are designed for quick and efficient garden maintenance at home.

There are 3 products in this system of tools:

The GTA 26 garden pruner
The STIHL HSA 26 shrub and grass shears
The SEA 20 vacuum

These products are powered by a replaceable AS 2 battery. This battery is charged using the AL 1 charger. AS System tools have a slot for inserting the battery directly into the machine.

THE STIHL AK SYSTEM – CORDLESS TOOLS FOR MEDIUM-SIZED AND LARGER GARDENS

The AK System tools are impressive machines with a flexible range of applications for medium-sized and larger gardens. From mowing the lawn to cutting firewood, they are ideal if you want to tackle almost any type of job in your garden.

There are 15 products in this system of cordless tools:

The STIHL MSA 60 C-B and MSA 70 C-B chainsaws
The HTA 50 pole pruner
The BGA 57 and BGA 60 leaf blower
The SHA 56 leaf blower and vacuum
The FSA 57 and FSA 60 R battery-powered grass trimmer
The HSA 50 and HSA 60 hedge trimmer and HLA 56 long-reach hedge trimmer
The RMA 235, RMA 248 and RMA 239 C cordless lawn mowers
The RLA 240 lawn scarifier

These products are powered by one of three interchangeable AK batteries, either the AK 10, AK 20 or AK 30, which slot directly into the machines. The batteries are all the same size so are interchangeable in the machines although, with certain tools, we do recommend the higher capacity batteries in the range to get the full power. For example, you should always use the STIHL AK 30 battery with the MSA 70 C-B chainsaw otherwise the performance will be reduced.

Some of our AK System machines are sold as a set with the battery and charger. In this case, buying the tools as a set is slightly cheaper than buying the items separately.

When you buy any AK tool, it should always be clear whether they are being sold with a battery and charger, but if you aren’t sure, just ask. If you already have an AK battery and charger, you may just want to buy the tool only, and all of the tools in the range can be bought on their own.

BGA 60 SET

THE STIHL AP SYSTEM – CORDLESS TOOLS FOR LARGE GARDENS AND PROFESSIONAL APPLICATIONS

The AP System tools are powerful battery-powered machines with long working times, outstanding handling and useful comfort features. This extensive system has a wide range of products with interchangeable batteries. AP System tools are suitable for professional users but are also useful if you have a large garden that you want to maintain yourself. If you are using STIHL AP System tools for professional work, you’ll receive 2 year’s professional warranty on your machine as well (subject to product registration and annual servicing).

These products are powered by interchangeable STIHL AP batteries or AR L backpack batteries. The backpack batteries are designed to give the longest run times for professional use. Both types of batteries can be charged using the AL 301 or AL 500 fast charger. AP System tools either have a slot for inserting the battery directly into the machine or a socket for a connecting cable that can be connected to an AP battery in a battery belt, or to a backpack battery.

AP System tools are sold without a battery or charger. These must be purchased separately. Each AP System tool has a recommended battery and charger which provides the best balance in the tool, but larger capacity batteries can still be used with them for longer run times.

We are continuously developing our battery technology and are launching both new battery tools and more intelligent batteries regularly. If you are thinking of investing in a battery system, you can be sure that STIHL battery tools can be relied on for years to come. For more advice on picking the right battery system, just speak to your nearest STIHL Approved Dealer.