Kärcher and STIHL Form Strategic Alliance on New Battery System

Setting a New Standard for Professional Applications

Adopting the "ALLPRO" Battery System as the Technological Foundation

Specialty Manufacturers in Forestry, Landscaping, and Construction Also Participating

Michael Traub, Chairman of the STIHL AG Executive Board, and Hartmut Jenner, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG

Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG (hereinafter "Kärcher") and ANDREAS STIHL AG & Co. KG (hereinafter "STIHL"), both German companies driving innovative technological development, announced on July 2, 2026, the signing of a joint alliance in the battery sector. This alliance has been launched as a strategic partnership aimed at providing a common, high-performance, and future-proof battery standard for professional users. At the core of this alliance is the "ALLPRO" battery system developed by STIHL, which will be progressively adopted in the professional product lines of both brands.

Comment from Michael Traub, Chairman of the STIHL AG Executive Board:

"Professional users demand more than just high-performance tools. They need a 'system' that can handle a wide range of tasks, reduce complexity, and offer long-term investment value. ALLPRO meets precisely these needs. Through our partnership with Kärcher, the application areas for this battery system will expand further, bringing new added value to our customers' daily operations."

Comment from Hartmut Jenner, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board of Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG:

"STIHL and Kärcher are family-owned companies that have built their success on an unwavering commitment to innovation and quality. By creating synergy between our products, we will accelerate the electrification of professional applications beyond mere technology provision. We believe this will significantly enhance our customers' competitiveness."

Benefits for Professional Users

Through this partnership, professional users will soon be able to use common high-performance batteries and chargers for both Kärcher's cleaning equipment and STIHL's outdoor power tools. For current STIHL product users, ALLPRO maintains full compatibility with the existing "AP System" battery series, ensuring a seamless transition. A key feature is the ability to effectively utilize existing AP System batteries with new Kärcher battery-powered equipment. For Kärcher, ALLPRO represents a new platform, while support and battery supply for the existing "Battery Universe" platform will continue to be guaranteed. Consequently, a wide range of daily operations in fields such as landscaping, forestry, and cleaning can be covered by a single battery system. This offers significant advantages in terms of efficiency, logistics, and cost-effectiveness, marking a technological turning point for these industries.

The new batteries are scheduled for sequential release at authorized STIHL dealers starting August 1, 2026. Kärcher plans to launch the new batteries and compatible equipment in the market from January 2027. The deployment plan and release timing in Japan are currently undecided.

Both companies will continue to focus on providing solutions that leverage their high technical expertise, proven reliability, and aim to make professional field operations more efficient and simpler. This alliance also includes specialty manufacturers of forestry winches, equipment transporters, and mobile refueling systems. This will enable over 120 models of equipment, from forestry and landscaping to construction, facility management, and even disaster relief organizations, to be used with the same battery. Furthermore, advanced charging and energy management systems will offer more comprehensive solutions.

For more detailed information, please visit: www.allpro-alliance.com (English website)

ALLPRO High-Performance Battery (Tabless Technology)

ALLPRO, a cross-brand battery system, caters to various applications through two technological classes. The AP 20.1 and AP 30.1 are basic models using standard cells with a proven sales record. While these batteries are familiar to existing STIHL product users, they will be updated with the unified ALLPRO design. The higher-end models, AP 100 P, AP 200 P, and AP 300 P, feature an innovative tabless cell structure. Traditionally, current passes through a single tab (contact point), causing heat generation. In the tabless structure, current is distributed across the entire cell, significantly improving energy flow efficiency. This structure results in extremely low internal resistance, greatly reducing heat generation during use and charging, thereby suppressing a primary cause of cell degradation. For example, the new AP 300 P model offers approximately 60% higher maximum output and about 20% longer continuous use time compared to conventional batteries. Charging time to full capacity is halved, and performance degradation is minimal even after up to 3,000 charging cycles.

With innovative tabless technology, the higher-end models of the STIHL ALLPRO system (AP 100 P, AP 200 P, and AP 300 P shown above) achieve an excellent power-to-weight ratio. Furthermore, they enable extremely fast charging compared to batteries using standard cells, with no performance degradation even after up to 3,000 charging cycles.

The integration of Kärcher's diverse range of professional cleaning equipment with this common battery will bring significant operational advantages in terms of efficiency, logistics, and cost-effectiveness.

ALLPRO employs next-generation professional battery technology designed for demanding tasks in forestry, landscaping, and public service operations. At the core of the system are new high-performance batteries with different energy capacities. Innovative tabless technology delivers significantly improved output and an excellent power-to-weight ratio. Additionally, it enables long continuous operation while substantially reducing charging times, coupled with high robustness.

* If introduced to the Japanese market in the future, the products and specifications may differ from those in Germany.

About Kärcher

Kärcher is a global company with over 170 subsidiaries in 87 countries, employing approximately 17,000 people. With the mission "To make the world a cleaner place," the company engages in business activities with a focus on sustainability. It provides solutions to protect valuable assets, from homes and their surroundings to communities, workplaces, and cultural heritage.

Kärcher offers products and services that meet all cleaning needs worldwide, from everyday household cleaning to specialized cleaning tasks. Providing reliable solutions for both professional and domestic use, the company continuously pursues innovations that benefit people and the environment while addressing cleaning challenges.

Since its founding in 1935, Kärcher has been a pioneer in cleaning technology, achieving sales of 3.483 billion euros in 2025.

Company information can be found here: https://www.kaercher.com/int/inside-kaercher/company/about-kaercher.html

About STIHL

STIHL is a globally operating technology leader. Since its founding in 1926, the company has provided products based on its brand philosophy: "To make work in nature, and in nature-working people's work, more comfortable." Today, STIHL operates production facilities in 8 countries, has 40 sales subsidiaries, approximately 100 importers, and a network of over 50,000 dealers. Since 1971, STIHL has maintained the top position in global chainsaw sales. In 2025, the company recorded 20,246 employees and sales of 5.48 billion euros.

Company information can be found here: https://corporate.stihl.com

100 Years Facing Nature. Trust Since 1926.

STIHL has been a trusted companion in outdoor work environments for 100 years. The 100th anniversary is a tribute to everyone who works daily with STIHL products worldwide, including those who protect the world's forests, manage urban environments, meticulously tend to their gardens, and those who develop and manufacture new STIHL products.

Stories and projects from these individuals can be found here: https://100.stihl.com