5 min read

40 V and 56 V ranges: which one should you choose and why

From domestic to professional use

By definition, battery-powered gardening tools are environmentally friendly (as they are zero-emission and quiet), easy to use and maintain. The latest generation combines these qualities with a very sophisticated level of technology and performance in line with the corresponding combustion engine models. Our catalog doubles the range of battery-powered tools: on the one hand, the 40 V range for private users, and on the other, the 56 V range for professionals. Today, we will discuss both ranges, providing an overview of the tools they offer and suggesting who they are most suitable for.

The 40 V battery-powered range: for novice and experienced private users

The 40 V range was the first battery-powered range we launched, designed for gardening enthusiasts who are particularly concerned about eco-sustainability. In fact, battery-powered chainsaws and brushcutters, like any other battery-powered machine, do not pollute with exhaust fumes. What’s more, their quietness reduces noise pollution, making work more pleasant. Not only that, but without a combustion engine, work becomes easier and faster: you turn them on with a button, there’s no need to refuel or handle gasoline and oil, and maintenance is minimal.

The battery-powered gardening tools in the 40 V base range cover the tasks you perform most often in the garden:

Cutting grass with the DSi 30 bruchcutter by Efco and with 5 push and self-propelled lawnmowers, also with side discharge and mulching function: LRi 40 P, LRi 44 P, LRi 48 P, LRi 44 T and LRi 48 T.
Cutting and pruning with the MTi 30 chainsaw by Efco and the TGi 45 hedgetrimmer.
Cleaning with the SAi 60 BOOST blower, a versatile tool for clearing all outdoor surfaces of grass clippings, pruning debris, dry leaves, and more.

The machines run on Bi 2.0 EF and Bi 5.0 EF batteries—with capacities of 2 and 5 Ah respectively—which are interchangeable, meaning they can be used on multiple machines. Recharge the batteries with a CRG standard battery charger or a FAST CRG fast battery charger, which reduces charging time by more than half.

The 40 V battery range is perfect for you if:

You have a small garden (up to 700 m², based on the performance of the mowers in the range).
Are looking for gardening tools to help you with seasonal garden maintenance: mowing the lawn from March to November, and winter and summer pruning.
Prefer tools that are easy to use, without the hassle of electric tool cables or the complications of combustion engine machines.
You’re new to gardening and want to start building a set of essential tools, starting with lawn care and pruning.

We have expanded the 40 V range “upwards”, meeting the needs of the most demanding gardening enthusiasts, with 4 machines that share a 0.6 kW brushless motor:

The DSi 35 Efco bruchcutter, more powerful than the DSi 30 model, comes close to the performance of a 25 cm³ combustion engine brushcutter.
The DSi 35 HL pole hedgetrimmer for working at height, with steel blades that can be adjusted to 12 positions.
The PTi 35 pruner for cutting branches up to 10-15 cm in diameter at height.
The DSi 35 D multifunction bruchcutter consisting of a motor unit and implements to transform it into a brushcutter, hedgetrimmer, and pruner.

In practice, we offer the new tools in the 40 V range as an intermediate between the basic 40 V machines and those in the 56 V range, specifically designed for professionals. With these new machines, we wanted to:

Boost the performance of the brushcutters and hedgetrimmers already in the range with the new DSi 35 and DSi 35 HL equipped with brushless motors, which give you more power, reliability, power range, safety, and quietness, with less maintenance.
Make working at height and depth easier with the DSi 35 HL pole hedgetrimmer and the PTi 35 pruner.
Provide you with a versatile 3-in-1 tool with the DSi 35 D multifunction tool, which we recommend, for example, as a first purchase or to optimize costs, or if you have limited space.

Finally, here you will find a feature on the low environmental impact of the 40 V range. Here, on the other hand, you will find comparative articles between battery, electric, and combustion engine power for chainsaws, hedgetrimmers, and blowers.

The 56V battery-powered range: for professionals and discerning private users

The 56 V battery product range is our professional range, designed for gardeners and lawncare maintenance workers. We also recommend it if you are a private user who takes care of large green areas or works on thick vegetation, both in the city and in the countryside. In terms of performance, these machines are equivalent to the corresponding combustion engine models in the same category.

With the 56 V battery-powered gardening tools, you have an alternative to combustion engine machines for demanding jobs:

Grass cutting with the DSi 530 S and DSi 530 T brushcutters, which are as powerful as a 27-30 cm³ combustion engine brushcutter, and with 3 push and self-propelled lawnmowers, with a 2.1 kW motor, side discharge, and mulching function as standard: LRi 548 P, LRi 548 V and LRi 553 V.
Cutting and pruning with the TGi 560 hedgetrimmer, the DSi 530 HL pole hedgetrimmer, the PTXi 530 pruner.
The DSi 530 D multifunction brushcutter consisting of a motor unit and implements to transform it into a brushcutter, hedgetrimmer, pruner, and blower.
Cleaning with the SAi 570 blower.

The 56 V range is powered by interchangeable batteries, available in 3 sizes: Bi 525, Bi 540 and Bi 580, with capacities of 2.5, 4, and 8 Ah, respectively. Thanks to advanced lithium cells, they have an excellent energy-to-weight ratio. They can be recharged quickly with the CRG 520 battery charger.

The higher battery voltage—56 V instead of 40 V—translates into faster charging and greater power and power range for the machine. Not only that, but here is a summary of the key features of the 56 V range:

Constant power and maximum performance until the battery is completely depleted.
State-of-the-art brushless motor.
Vector control of the motor, which optimizes battery charge and limits dispersion.
Highly reliable mechanical components (the same as those used in the heavy-duty machines in the Efco catalog).
Machine-user interface via comprehensive information display and Efco HUB app.

The 56 V battery range is for you if:

You are a gardener or lawncare maintenance worker.
You are looking for gardening tools that can withstand intensive daily use with constant power, reliability, and sturdiness, and with high-capacity, fast-charging batteries.
You want a real alternative to combustion engine gardening tools that is environmentally friendly, quiet, and low maintenance.
You have a medium to large garden to take care of (up to 2,200 m² based on the performance of the mowers in the range) or you need to cut/prune thick vegetation, even in the countryside.