Inside Stihl’s New AllPro Battery Tool Collection

This summer I attended a media preview of the new Stihl AllPro battery system, 3 weeks ahead of its public unveiling. This system supports Stihl’s heavy-duty battery tool lineup, designed for landscape, agriculture, and forestry pros, and anyone else who needs extra power for bigger jobs. We spent an afternoon learning from the teams tasked with updating the AP battery platform. We saw the new capabilities demonstrated by the Stihl team, heard the brand’s talking points, and tried out the tools ourselves. That last part was my favorite.

Although the batteries and tools look nearly identical to earlier versions, the updates—mainly to the batteries themselves—make a huge difference in working power, weight, runtime per charge, and charging time. Taken together, they have the potential to radically improve production as well as the user experience.

The biggest boost to this generation of tools comes from the upgraded batteries. Stihl adopted tabless cell technology for the new AP batteries, which are compatible with earlier AP-battery tools. This simple design change increases operating efficiency, peak power output, battery runtime, and overall working life without increasing battery size or weight. 

The new AP 300.0 P battery charges from 0 to 80 percent in only 10 minutes on the AL 1602 MO dual-port fast charger, eliminating downtime if you are running multiple batteries. This new battery design offers a working life of 3,000 charge cycles (once a day, 7 days a week, for more than 8 years) with zero drop-off in performance. This new battery is also better equipped for working in the elements, with an IPX5 rating and a working temperature range of -4-degrees to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Those who balk at the premium price of the lightning-fast AL 1602 charger can still minimize downtime with the AL 501 charger. This 12-amp single-port charger is compatible with Stihl’s full range of AK, AP, AllPro, and AR batteries. It features LED indicator lights, automatic full-charge shutoff, and a high-flow active cooling fan to maintain optimum charging temperatures.

This charger replenishes the professional-grade AP 300.0 P battery from 0 to 80 percent in 30 minutes, and to 100 percent in 50 minutes. If you’ve been using the AL 101 standard charger that came with your residential-grade chainsaw or lawn mower kit, upgrading to the AL 501 will reduce AK 30 battery charging time from 160 minutes to 35 minutes (to 80 percent charge), or from 205 to 60 minutes (to 100 percent charge).

Dependable Stihl leaf blowers remain popular among lawncare pros as the industry moves toward battery power. The new BRA 280, with up to 26 newtons of blow force, makes switching to battery power easier than ever. It only weighs 24 pounds with two AP 300 batteries installed. The dual-battery configuration delivers 50 minutes or more total runtime via sequential discharge, while a single battery offers about 17 minutes of constant high power, or up to 30 minutes of variable-speed operation.

This unit features a convenient handle-mounted screen that shows battery status, speed control, service alerts, and access to energy-saving modes. It includes Stihl’s constant power technology that ensures full-strength performance throughout the charge cycle. Lower power worked perfectly for clearing grass clippings from concrete, while full power efficiently moved leaves, twigs, and heavier debris. I was especially impressed by the low noise output, which makes it an ideal option for noise-sensitive neighborhoods.

As a homeowner who only needs a chainsaw a few times a year, chainsaws were my early favorite application for batteries in outdoor power equipment. More than just grab-and-go convenient, the MSA 300 is the most powerful model in Stihl’s battery-powered chainsaw lineup. The saw features a rugged yet lightweight magnesium motor housing, a grippy rubberized handle, and antivibration technology. For ease of maintenance, it includes captive bar nuts and a side-access chain tensioner.

Compatible with a 16- to 18-inch bar and chain, and packing 3 kWh of cutting power, the MSA 300 is an ideal battery-powered upgrade over the popular Stihl MS 271 Farm Boss gas chainsaw. The power ratings are nearly identical, but the MSA 300 weighs nearly a pound less (while equipped with a 20-inch bar/chain and the new AP 300.0 P battery). It has the power and size needed for felling, limbing, and bucking small to midsize trees, plus excellent maneuverability for pruning. 

In action, the greatest advantages of the MSA 300 are its instant torque (unlike the gas saw that has to ramp up to full cutting power) and faster chain speed (30 mps vs. the Farm Boss’s 25 mps). This makes it ideal for pruning, limbing, and other fast cutting scenarios. In sustained heavy-duty cuts (burying the full bar length into a seasoned hardwood log and leaning on it for added leverage), the MSA 300 is susceptible to overheating that will trigger the system to reduce power output. 

A $2,700 push mower may be a splurge for homeowners, but it sure was fun to try. The Stihl RMA 756 V is a 21-inch self-propelled walk-behind lawnmower designed to replace commercial-grade gas mowers. Its whopping 3,100 watts of mowing and mulching power easily matches up with gas alternatives, while dramatically reducing noise and eliminating exhaust and engine maintenance hassles.

Powered by a pair of AP-series batteries, this mower can run for over 2 hours per charge. It also boasts a 4-in-1 system that supports mulching, side and rear discharge, and a 21-gallon bagger for clean collection. The unique mono-comfort handle offers the easiest access to the collection bag of any walk-behind mower I’ve used. 

Why waste money and valuable storage space with lots of standalone tools when you can get a space-saving multi-tasker at a fraction of the price? Stihl’s KombiSystem isn’t new, and this bundle from Acme Tools isn’t all-inclusive, but it fits perfectly with the efficiency mindset. It’s a great way to get the most value out of your battery system.

I like this particular kit because it includes all the handheld landscaping equipment you need to get started. Those who already own a garage full of Stihl equipment will be happy to know that newer tools, batteries, and attachments are designed, as much as possible, to integrate with prior iterations. So, if you’re looking to replace your old gas-powered KombiSystem, you need only replace the powerhead–the attachments are cross-compatible with gas and battery systems.

Those who are unsure about battery power should try out a battery hedge trimmer. The HLA 140 extended reach hedge trimmer is a professional trimmer that delivers exceptional cutting performance with very low noise and incredibly long runtime per charge. It features a high-performance brushless motor, variable speed control, and a 24-inch double-sided articulating blade. The 34 mm (1.3 inch) tooth spacing accommodates foliage and green stems up to 1 inch thick for a clean precise cut.

I prefer this fixed-pole hedge trimmer over traditional handheld models because it provides a longer reach without adding weight. The 145-degree articulating head makes it easy to level tall hedge tops and trim the backsides of shrubs away from walls with less climbing, repositioning, or working in awkward positions.

 

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