Will Makita Lithium-Ion tools ever be compatible with Makita Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries?
No. Makita designed every aspect of the 18V LXT Lithium-Ion and 18V Compact Lithium-Ion line of tools to deliver four promises to the pro user: More Power, Less Weight, Better Fit and More Work. LXT and Compact tools are not just existing tools with a new Lithium-Ion battery; they are completely re-designed with the most advanced power tool Lithium-Ion battery and charging system available on the market. Makita designed and built the LXT tool platform from the ground up to complement the lightweight LXT and Compact battery platform.