What is the difference between normal batteries and tabless cell batteries?

The biggest difference lies in the type of current transmission within the battery cell. Whereas conventional lithium-ion batteries conduct the current via a narrow tab, tabless technology uses the entire surface area for unobstructed energy flow. Tabbed cells : the current must pass through the tab, a single metal strip. This leads to a higher resistance under high load and thus to strong heat development and power loss. Tabless cells: The metal foils are directly connected over the entire length. The current flows over a large area, which significantly reduces the internal resistance.

Is there an increased risk of fire due to the high performance of the tabless cells?

No, quite the opposite. The tabless design is specifically designed to reduce heat development, as heat is the greatest stress factor for any battery cell. As the current flows through many contact points, hardly any accumulated heat is generated. All cells are thermally networked and are actively cooled by the battery cooling feature , which consistently prevents critical hot spots inside. The Smart Control function protects the battery from overload and deep discharge at all times.

STIHL ALLPRO AP 300.0 PC battery in front of a vehicle's cargo area

Tabless battery technology: even more power for gardening and landscaping, forestry, and construction

Long-lasting maximum performance for long-term use: discover the batteries in the ALLPRO performance series with innovative tabless cells.

01.10.2026

Overview: STIHL tabless battery technology

What are tabless cells? In tabless design, the battery cells are connected across their entire surface rather than via a narrow tab.
How do tabless cells work? The full-surface flags reduce the internal resistance within the cell, allowing energy to flow more easily. This reduces heat development and maximises power flow during charging and discharging.
Advantages of STIHL batteries with tabless design IPX5 protection, Smart Control, battery cooling and a cold-start function.
STIHL batteries with tabless cells at a glance The ALLPRO Performance series offers you the right battery set-up for every professional application: AP 100.0 P, AP 200.0 P, AP 300.0 P(C).
Compatibility of batteries with tabless design STIHL batteries with tabless cells are compatible with all chargers and battery power tools from the previous AP system as well as with third-party power tools approved by STIHL

STIHL ALLPRO: the next milestone for even more battery power

For decades, STIHL has stood for uncompromising quality in innovations and technologies that make your everyday work noticeably easier: in forestry, gardening and landscaping, on construction sites or in demanding domestic projects. With the STIHL ALLPRO battery system, we offer you exactly the right energy source for every challenge.

What are tabless cells?

Tabless battery cells are the next generation of lithium-ion technology. The new cell design eliminates the physical bottleneck of conventional cells. Instead of conducting the current through a single, narrow contact (tab), tabless cells use flags over the entire surface for the energy flow. 

What distinguishes a battery with tabless cells from a conventional lithium-ion battery?

How does a battery with tabless cells work?

Timothy Renschler from STIHL Product Management summarises the effects of a battery with a tabless design on your work: :

“A conventional battery cell has a tab. Tabless cells have a lot of flags. This reduces internal resistance, meaning the battery cell doesn’t get as hot and we can ride at a significantly higher power output. This is the case both when discharging and charging the battery. That’s why we can charge STIHL batteries with tabless design super-fast."

Power, charging time, service life: these are the benefits of tabless cells

ALLPRO was developed with pros from tree maintenance, and gardening and landscaping for your daily work

Drops, wet conditions, continuous use - STIHL batteries have to show what they can do in the test laboratory. To do so, they undergo rigorous drop, drum and insertion cycle tests. Thanks to their robust design, they can withstand drop heights of up to 1.5 metres and the cell technology is reliably protected against loss of function. But the most important test takes place outside: across the world, professional companies test the batteries under real-life conditions in their daily work. The result? An absolutely robust system designed for your daily challenges. No matter how tough the job gets: your ALLPRO battery system is ready.

An ALLPRO Battery Pack in a Two-Hour Drum Test

More charge cycles, more power, -20°C to +50°C, IPX5. 

These advantages are proven in complex testing procedures. Find out how we put the ALLPRO batteries through their paces and accompany us directly into development. 

Take a look behind the scenes

Intelligent, strong, enduring: How tabless cells improve your workflow

The ALLPRO system makes your daily work easier. Whether in rainy weather, under high time pressure or in extreme applications in the forest or on construction sites: STIHL batteries with tabless cells offer a range of features for precisely this purpose.

IPX5 protection⁴

Enables weatherproof work

Smart Control function

Exactly the energy your project needs

Battery cooling function

Heat protection during charging

Cold start function

Ready to start at any temperature

Would you like to find out more about STIHL ALLPRO batteries with tabless cells?

Find a dealer near you

The STIHL ALLPRO battery system: performance with tabless design

Whether blowing leaves in noise-sensitive areas, tree maintenance or working on a construction site - your battery with tabless design charges faster, delivers more power and lasts longer. So you can master every task: you can remove dense scrub, cut hedges, saw thick branches and cut through hard concrete - always with full power.

STIHL tabless technology: Performance data overview

	AP 100.0 P	AP 200.0 P	AP 300.0 P(C)
Weight	0.9 kg	1.4 kg	1.9 kg
Energy	111 Wh	222 Wh	333 Wh
Charging time¹	9 min / 80%	9 min / 80%	9 min / 80%
Charge cycles³	>3,000	>3,000	>3,000
Operating temperature	-20 to +50 °C	-20 to +50 °C	-20 to +50 °C

Which power tools are tabless cell batteries compatible with?

STIHL batteries with tabless cells from the ALLPRO system are compatible with all STIHL battery power tools and chargers from the previous AP system. In addition, the batteries with tabless design also fit in STIHL-approved third-party power tools.

Digital fleet management for your STIHL battery products

STIHL connected technology is integrated directly into the AP 300.0 P C ex works. This allows you to manage your power tool fleet digitally. You can easily keep track of the charge level, location and battery health via the app and integrate the new batteries directly into your digital workflows.

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Important questions about STIHL tabless technology

The biggest difference lies in the type of current transmission within the battery cell. Whereas conventional lithium-ion batteries conduct the current via a narrow tab, tabless technology uses the entire surface area for unobstructed energy flow. 

Tabbed cells: the current must pass through the tab, a single metal strip. This leads to a higher resistance under high load and thus to strong heat development and power loss.

Tabless cells: The metal foils are directly connected over the entire length. The current flows over a large area, which significantly reduces the internal resistance.

The ALLPRO performance series is designed to have a very long service life. With up to 3,000 charge cycles * without any significant loss of performance, you invest in technology that will accompany you reliably for many years to come.

^{* Up to 3,000 charge cycles without noticeable deterioration. Still useable beyond this point. Only valid for ALLPRO AP 100.0 P, AP 200.0 P and AP 300.0 P(C).}

The batteries with tabless cells (the ALLPRO performance series, consisting of AP 100.0 P, AP 200.0 P and AP 300.0 P(C)) are fully compatible with all STIHL power tools and chargers from the previous AP system.

No, you can charge ALLPRO batteries with tabless cells with all STIHL chargers from the AP system. The AL 1802 MO charger, for example, brings your AP 300.0 P(C) back to 80% in just nine minutes*.

_{* Time to charge up to 80% at ambient or pack temperatures of 25–40 °C in combination with AL 1802 MO. Only valid for ALLPRO batteries AP 100.0 P, AP 200.0 P and AP 300.0 P(C).}

No, quite the opposite. The tabless design is specifically designed to reduce heat development, as heat is the greatest stress factor for any battery cell. 

As the current flows through many contact points, hardly any accumulated heat is generated.

All cells are thermally networked and are actively cooled by the battery cooling feature, which consistently prevents critical hot spots inside.

The Smart Control function protects the battery from overload and deep discharge at all times.

Even more battery topics

_{¹Time to reach 80% charge at ambient/battery temperatures of 25-40°C in combination with AL 1802 MO. Valid for ALLPRO batteries AP 100.0 P, AP 200.0 P and AP 300.0 P(C).

²Comparison between AP 300.0 P (C) and AP 300 S. 

³Up to 3,000 cycles without noticeable loss of performance; can still be used afterwards. Only valid for ALLPRO batteries AP 100.0 P, AP 200.0 P and AP 300.0 P(C).}