Compact, lightweight and powerful universal tools for drilling and screwdriving: Two-speed Cordless Drill/Drivers PSR 14.4 LI-2 and PSR 18 LI-2 from Bosch for DIY enthusiasts

· World's first DIY drill/driver with replaceable lithium-ion battery

· 25 percent more compact and lightweight than conventional cordless drill/drivers in this class

· 250 screws can be driven in softwood with one battery charge

The first DIY cordless drill/drivers with replaceable lithium-ion battery: Bosch Power Tools, the leader in technology for power tools with lithium-ion batteries, launches another world first onto the market. The Two-speed Cordless Drill/Drivers PSR 14.4 LI-2 and PSR 18 LI-2 are also 25 percent more compact and lightweight than comparable conventional cordless drill/drivers thanks to their new battery technology and new design. Every model is nevertheless very powerful: in short, a universal power tool for a wide range of drilling and screwdriving applications ranging from assembling furniture to fitting wooden floor boards on patios. The new drill/driver drives approximately 250 screws, 4x30 millimeters in size, in softwood with one battery charge.

In addition to the replaceable battery preferred by DIY enthusiasts, the innovative drill/drivers also offer even more convenience. The lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1.3 ampere hours is only about half the size of comparable NiCd batteries. It has hardly any self-discharge when not being used. 85 percent of the charge is retained, even if it has not been used for four months – in contrast, NiCd batteries are completely discharged after the same amount of time.

The three-stage LED display in the foot of the power tool constantly indicates how much charge is currently left in the battery. The new, practical charging station is automatically switched off when the battery is fully charged. The battery can either be charged in the station on its own or while still inserted in the drill/driver. This saves time if the user wants to repeatedly recharge the battery over the course of lengthy periods of work. Since they have no memory effect, these batteries can be recharged at any time without reducing their charge capacity.

Lithium-ion batteries from Bosch work with ECP (Electronic Cell Protection), which protects the battery against overload, overheating and total discharge. These measures considerably extend the lifetime of the battery packs in comparison to competitor products.

25 torque settings for screwdriving and one for drilling

The two-speed planetary gears together with the Power motor ensure powerful screwdriving at low speeds and convenient drilling at high speed. Due to the 25 torque settings for screwdriving and one drill setting, the new drill/drivers can be perfectly adjusted to suit the job at hand. The handy grip with softgrip covering and the easy-to-operate forward/reverse switch are an indication of the high degree of ergonomics offered by the drill/drivers. Two LEDs show the user whether forward or reverse operation is set. The additional "Powerlight" LED provides a bright light when working in dark corners. The toolholder is also convenient. Drill bits or screwdriver bits are rapidly clamped in the Autolock keyless chuck without the need for any additional tools. The chuck locks the drill spindle when the motor is at standstill, allowing for easy drill bit or screwdriver bit changes.

The new cordless drill/drivers are available in two versions: the PSR 14.4 LI-2 with 14.4-volt battery and the PSR 18 LI-2 with 18-volt battery. The main differences between the two models are their maximum torque (30 and 36 Nm respectively) and their drilling diameter in wood (30 and 35 mm respectively). The models are available at retail outlets for the recommended retail price of 139.99 euros and 169.99 euros respectively including VAT. They are an addition to the Bosch range of tools with this innovative technology, which began in 2003 with the Ixo, the world's first screwdriver with lithium-ion battery, and continued with the one-speed screwdrivers PSR 200 LI and PSR 300 LI. More than three million Ixos have been sold to date.