[epicide]

In the past few years, I've gradually come to realize how much batteries (in anything) can actually cost me in things other than just upfront monetary price.

For example, even if a corded $THING costs as much as its cordless counterpart, with the cordless one, I have to think about things like:

- Charging schedule

- Whether the device is draining battery when I'm not using it

- How long before the battery needs replacing

- How much a replacement battery costs

- How to dispose of the battery when it needs replacing

- Whether I'm even able to replace the battery

- How well the device functions without a battery or with a dead/dying one

Without going down that particular rabbit hole, things like right to repair attempt to help with some of those things. However, the corded version avoids all of them categorically.

So it's not that I'll never buy a battery-powered $THING again. Just that I really try to consider all of those "hidden costs" before choosing instead of just rather-blindly going with the battery-powered version (like I did before). In other words, having a battery installed in a device really needs to provide a consistent and realistic value for my personal use case before I'd choose it over a corded version.

If we ever create a battery with effectively infinite recharge cycles, then my stance might change, but I'm not holding my breath on that ever happening. For several reasons.

[bombcar]

I have a simple system.

Does the tool move?

If it moves with me (drill, impact wrench, etc) it should almost certainly be cordless. If it is stationary (table saw, vacuum, etc) it should almost certainly be corded. Some tools are both.

[r00fus]

I've done well with a corded drill (we only use it occasionally in the house/garage near outlets). My 10yo cordless battery packs died and the new LiPo batteries (same vendor) have a different form factor.