Black & Decker 40V MAX* 2.0 Ah Lithium Ion Battery

Why I added this 40V battery to my yard kit

I put this 40V battery through a full season of yard chores to see if a single 2.0Ah pack could realistically anchor a small-property setup. I paired it with a string trimmer, a blower, and a hedge trimmer from the same 36V/40V MAX system and rotated the battery among them. The short version: it’s light, charges quickly, and works across tools as advertised. The long version is about matching expectations—2.0Ah in the 40V class is the “starter” capacity, and you’ll want to plan your work (or add a second pack) if your yard is larger than a postage stamp.

Compatibility and what the numbers actually mean

This battery slots into Black+Decker’s 36V MAX and 40V MAX outdoor tools. The “40V MAX” label refers to the maximum initial voltage off the charger; the pack’s nominal operating voltage is 36V. Practically, that means if you’ve got any of the brand’s current 36V/40V MAX trimmers, blowers, hedge trimmers, or small chainsaws, this pack fits and runs them.

Specs that mattered to me in use:
- Capacity: 2.0Ah (80Wh)
- Weight: 1.6 lb
- Typical charge time: about an hour (with the matching charger)
- Sold as a single battery; charger not included

The weight is a sweet spot. It keeps handheld tools balanced and less fatiguing, especially on trimmers and hedge trimmers where a heavy pack can nose-up a tool.

Real-world runtime

Energy drives runtime, and at 80Wh this pack is best suited for light to moderate tasks. My measured averages over a season, all on healthy tools with sharp consumables:

• String trimmer (0.065–0.080 line): 18–25 minutes depending on how aggressively I bumped the head and the density of the grass. Light edging on sidewalks and beds? Closer to 25 minutes. Tall, thick growth? Nearer 18.
• Leaf blower: 12–18 minutes. On full blast to push wet leaves, it’s closer to the low end. On a medium setting for hard surfaces, I could stretch it to 15–18 minutes.
• Hedge trimmer: 30–35 minutes on mixed shrubs. Hedge work is less power-intensive in bursts, so the battery lasts longer here.
• Small pole saw/limbing: 10–15 minutes of cutting time. That’s more than enough for occasional pruning, but not for bucking a pile of limbs.

Those ranges lined up with expectations for a 2.0Ah pack in this voltage class. If your weekly routine is: trim edges, touch up a few hedges, blow the walkways—that’s one battery’s worth of work. If your yard needs an hour of blower time or you’re reclaiming overgrowth, expect to swap batteries or recharge mid-job.

Two notes that affected runtime:
- Temperatures: In cooler spring mornings, the battery delivered slightly less runtime. It perked up as the day warmed. Lithium cells prefer moderate temperatures.
- Tool condition: Fresh trimmer line and clean filters help. A dull line or clogged blower intake knocks minutes off.

Charging, maintenance, and the little things

Charge time landed near the one-hour mark using the compatible Black+Decker charger. That’s quick enough to top off between tasks if you plan your workflow—trim first, charge while you edge, then blow. I did see one instance where the pack didn’t immediately start charging; pulling it off and reseating it fixed the issue. It didn’t recur.

Care tips that paid off for me:
- Let the pack cool before charging if it feels warm from heavy use.
- For storage longer than a month, park it around half charge and keep it somewhere dry and temperate.
- Avoid running the pack completely flat every cycle; it’s fine occasionally, but shallow to mid-depth cycles are gentler on lithium cells.
- Keep contacts clean. A quick wipe now and then ensures reliable tool and charger connection.

Self-discharge was minimal. I could leave the battery off the charger for a few weeks and still have usable charge for quick touch-ups.

Ergonomics and build

The casing is sturdy with a positive, reassuring latch. It slides on and off tools cleanly and doesn’t rattle once engaged. At 1.6 pounds, it helps the smaller tools land in that nimble, one-hand-friendly zone—especially noticeable on hedge trimmers and compact blowers. Over the season, the pack took a couple of harmless bumps in the garage and yard without any drama.

I’d love to see every outdoor battery include a clear state-of-charge indicator on the pack itself. If your tools have built-in indicators, you’re covered; if not, you’ll learn to read the faint performance taper toward the end of the charge. It’s predictable, but a gauge removes the guesswork.

Performance over time

After roughly 30–35 charge cycles across spring and summer, the battery still felt healthy. If there was any capacity fade, it was small enough that it didn’t change how I scheduled tasks. I did a mid-winter check and found it held its state of charge well in storage. Good care habits matter more with small-capacity packs because every minute counts; keeping it out of a hot car and avoiding deep discharges helped.

Value and the case for a second battery

This 2.0Ah pack is the entry ticket to the 40V lineup. On price-to-runtime, larger-capacity packs will always look better on paper. Where this one wins is weight and cost of entry if you already own tools in the system. The big caveat is that it’s sold without a charger, so make sure you have the correct charger already or budget for one.

If you rely on a 40V setup for all your yard work, my advice is simple:
- For small yards or spot work: one 2.0Ah battery is fine.
- For medium yards or back-to-back tasks: run two batteries, or step up to a higher-capacity pack for your most demanding tool.
- For large properties or heavy blower/chain saw work: this 2.0Ah pack feels out of its depth; go bigger.

Also factor in replacement cost. Batteries are consumables over the long run. Treat them well and they’ll last; abuse them and they won’t. Check warranty details for your region and keep the receipt—battery support varies.

Who it’s for

• Homeowners with modest weekly tasks: edging, light trimming, walkway cleanup, hedge touch-ups.
• Anyone already invested in Black+Decker’s 36V/40V MAX tools who wants a lightweight spare.
• Users who value a quick, one-hour turnaround on the charger over maximum runtime per cycle.

Who should look elsewhere or size up:
- Owners with long, continuous blower sessions or thick, fast-growing grass.
- DIYers tackling heavy pruning or frequent chainsaw work.
- People who want to do the entire yard on a single battery without planning recharge windows.

The bottom line

As a lightweight, cross-compatible pack for the 36V/40V MAX system, this 2.0Ah battery did what I needed for a small suburban yard. It balances tools nicely, charges in about an hour, and delivers predictable runtimes if you keep expectations realistic. The trade-off is obvious: 80Wh only stretches so far. If you push your tools hard or want fewer interruptions, step up in capacity or keep a second battery on hand.

Recommendation: I recommend this battery for light to moderate yardwork and for users already in the Black+Decker 36V/40V MAX ecosystem who value weight and quick charging. If you have a larger property, plan to buy a second pack or move to a higher-capacity battery to avoid frustration. The battery itself is solid; just make sure its runtime aligns with the jobs you need to get done.