Echo Ditches 58V for New eForce 56V Cordless Outdoor Power Tool System

Echo has recently announced a new eForce 56V cordless outdoor power tool system.

News channels have reported that the new Echo eForce 56V system will be replacing Echo’s existing 58V lineup, although they have been telling customers that “56v is just a new line of products that we’ll be offering; the 58v line will still be available.”

However, that seems doubtful, as Echo’s website seems to have the 56V lineup indeed superseding their 58V tools. I’m told that an adapter will not be available. It looks that Echo is indeed completely replacing their 58V lineup with the new 56V system.

Echo says that the new eForce 56V cordless outdoor power tool system will launch in 2022 with 10 different tools, 2 battery sizes, and 2 chargers.

They say their target audience includes “high-end homeowners, professional landscapers, and arborists.”

Here are all of the new Echo eForce 56V tools that have been announce so far:

• • Chainsaws:
    • 12″ Top-Handle Chainsaw (DCS-2500T): $500
    • 18″ Rear-Handle Chainsaw (DCS-5000): $300
  • String Trimmers:
    • 16″ String Trimmer (DSRM-2100): $200
    • 17″ String Trimmer (DSRM-2600): $400
  • 21″ Self-Propelled 3-in-1 Lawn Mower (DLM-2100SP): $500
  • 549 CFM Handheld Blower (DPB-2500): $200
  • 22” Hedge Trimmer (DHC-2300): $250
  • 17″ Brushcutter (DSRM-2600U): $450
  • Pro Attachment Series (PAS) Trimmers:
    • 16” (DPAS-2100SB): $250
    • 17” (DPAS-2600SB): $420

• eForce 56V Batteries:
• Chargers:
  • Standard Charger
  • Rapid Charger

What’s interesting is that many of the new eForce tools are priced well under similar 58V versions.

The new Echo eForce mower (21″), for instance, is priced at $500 while the 58V version (also 21″) is priced at $550 on Echo’s website. The new eForce 56V hedge trimmer is a 22″ model priced at $250, compared to the 24″ 58V model that’s priced at $320. The new 56V 18″ chainsaw (rear-handle) is priced at $300, compared to $340 for the 58V 16″ chainsaw (also rear-handle).

Some of the other product details also seem to suggest Echo was value and price-conscious with the new line. The new $500 eForce 56V 21″ mower (self-propelled), for example, is said to be bundled with a 2.5Ah battery. EGO’s $570 56V 21″ mower (push-style) is bundled with a 5.0Ah battery and rapid charger. EGO’s self-propelled mower is considerably pricier and is kitted with a 10.0Ah battery.

Echo’s eForce 56V battery charging rate seem weak – according to their product listings, the new 2.5Ah battery requires 75 minutes for a full charge. There are no published charging specs for Echo’s 5.0Ah battery or rapid charger.

For comparison, EGO’s 56V standard charger recharges their 2.5Ah battery in 50 minutes, and their rapid charger recharges a 5.0Ah battery in 75 minutes.

The warranty is listed as 5 years for consumers and 1 year for commercial use.

Echo doesn’t say much about what the new lineup offers users, only saying:

As battery powered growth continues to soar, we wanted to give customers a superior option.

The 56V e-Force platform delivers the performance that users have come to expect from the ECHO brand.

It’ll be interesting to see how the new Echo system compares against popular battery-powered systems by EGO, Dewalt, Milwaukee, Ryobi, and others, which have been grabbing market share from the gas-engine tool industry for several years now.