Bosch has launched a new line of 18V cordless outdoor power tools, and at least one of them – a leaf blower – will be available in the USA.
The European tool brand is no stranger to cordless OPE products – we reported on Bosch’s dual battery mower back in 2015.
In the years since then, Bosch refrained from joining competitors and has not brought cordless outdoor power tools or lawn and garden equipment to the US market.
Bosch USA has posted a new listing on their website for an 18V battery-powered cordless blower, indicating that their long absence from North America is about to change.
The new Bosch 18V cordless blower, GBL18V-450N, will be part of their ProFactor line of premium power tools, and is advertised as delivering “corded performance.”
The Bosch GBL18V-450N Professional blower features a BiTurbo brushless motor with an axial fan design, and can deliver 459 CFM and a max air speed of 123 mph.
It has a control wheel for adjusting the air speed, allowing users to choose between maximum power or lower noise and longer runtime.
A trigger lock-on button offers convenience but also still allows for air speed adjustment.
- 459 CFM max air volume
- 123 mph max air speed
- 64 dB noise rating
- Air speed control wheel
- 8,000-20,800 RPM
- Weighs 6.6 lbs (presumably without battery)
- 33.6″ length with nozzle tube
- Twist-and-click nozzle attachment
Bosch recommends that the blower be paired with their 18V 8Ah or 12Ah batteries for maximum performance.
Pricing information is not yet available.
Thank you to Ken for the tip!!
Discussion
Bosch brought additional 18V cordless outdoor power tools to the European market.
At this time, their USA website only lists the cordless blower, but it’s possible we could see the hedge trimmer, string trimmers, and mower launch here as well.
Where?
Most cordless outdoor power tool brands have partnered with a retail home improvement center, aiding their visibility and availability.
Lowe’s has Craftsman, Kobalt, and Skil, plus EGO and others outside of the handheld power tool space.
Home Depot, Lowe’s top competitor, carries Dewalt, Milwaukee, and Ryobi cordless power tool systems and OPE products, plus a line of Ridgid cordless OPE products online.
Bosch’s biggest big box home center retailer is Lowe’s.
We have yet to see any AmpShare products, advertisements, or promotions at Lowe’s stores, despite Bosch making major announcements about cross-brand adoption and USA availability one year ago.
A leaf blower is a good start, I suppose.
Bosch has not made any announcements about the new blower that’s featured on their website, giving us no insights as to their plans or intentions.
Skeptics might question whether the listing for the blower is a mistake. The model number is GBL18V-450N Professional, with the “450” part referencing the “exceeds 450 CFM” product performance claim. CFM units are used in the USA, while cubic meters are used for blowers marketed in Europe and other markets.
A nearly identical EU model, GBL 18V-750 PROFESSIONAL, delivers air volume of 780 cubic meters, which converts to 459 CFM. The EU model delivers 198 km/hr max air speed, which converts to 123 mph, the same as is advertised for the US model. Thus, the GBL18V-450N is named for the US market and appears to be functionally* (but not quite cosmetically) identical to the GBL 18V-750 sold overseas.
*Note: Ken brings up in the comments that the EU version doesn’t have a locking-on feature.
I expect to see the blower at independent and online dealers, such as Amazon, but hope for broader availability.
It doesn’t make sense that Bosch would launch just one outdoor power tool here, but they also could just be testing the waters.