There are a lot of products Milwaukee gets requests for, and many come to market. We finally got the M18 Fuel lawn mower, but what about another OPE expansion with a Milwaukee pressure washer?
Unfortunately, there’s not one yet… at least not officially. I reached out to our contacts at Milwaukee to see if they could offer any information about a model that might be ready for a future Pipeline announcement. Here’s what they said:
“We don’t have any concrete information at this time. Nothing is off the table; we are always looking for how we can best deliver solutions for a safer and more productive job site.”
Milwaukee’s product roadmap is literally years into the future, and we’re not surprised that there’s nothing to share publicly at the moment. However, I’d be genuinely surprised if the concept isn’t already on their radar in some capacity. Still, we can dive into the “what ifs” a bit and dream about what’s hopefully somewhere down the road.
Milwaukee Pressure Washer Power Source
MX Fuel
In my opinion, the MX Fuel system is the most obvious platform to put a Milwaukee pressure washer on. It has the highest capacity and power output, especially when you consider the new Forge batteries.
Keep in mind that the entire line is focused on replacing small gas engines on the jobsite. That puts a pressure washer right in the wheelhouse of this system. When you consider products such as the MX Fuel concrete trowels, compactor, or others, you’re looking at tools that are in the 5.0 – 6.0 HP range with a gas engine.
That’s the kind of power the Honda GX200 engine produces—an engine commonly found on the best pressure washers Pros often turn to. At least from a performance perspective, MX Fuel is a viable option.
The biggest concern would be the cost. We use commercial-grade gas models in the $600 range. By the time you build the unit and add a couple of high-capacity batteries, it’s conceivable that a Milwaukee MX Fuel pressure washer could run $2500 – $3000.
M18
What about the M18 battery system? When you need to produce the kind of power we’re talking about, it’s tempting to discount M18 batteries. However, Milwaukee’s dual-battery M18 Fuel self-propelled lawn mower can outperform 200cc gas models, bringing that Honda GX200 back into the conversation.
So, if we assume the power is available, especially now that the Forge batteries are coming out, runtime is the big limiting factor for the M18 system. With the 12.0Ah High Output battery, there’s 216Wh to work with, so two of those would offer 432Wh of capacity.
Looking over to the residential side, EGO has the best cordless model right now, claiming to get an hour of runtime in Eco mode from two 6.0Ah batteries. Running at 56V (50.4V nominal), that’s just under 605Wh, so Milwaukee would be at about 2/3 the capacity, assuming the same power output. If they go with four active ports on a dual-battery design, that will get a Milwaukee pressure washer up to 864Wh. That’s a legit capacity level and would match what you get from a 12.0Ah MX Fuel battery, making the M18 battery system another viable option.
M12
Battery and motor technology is going to have to move light years ahead to see a legit M12 pressure washer option. Even a power cleaner is a stretch for both power and capacity. Between that and being way out in left field from the rest on the line’s focus, it’s highly unlikely we’ll ever have M12 in the conversation.
Milwaukee Pressure Washer Performance
Now that we’ve established there are at least two possibilities for a power source, what kind of performance would we need to make a Milwaukee pressure washer a reality?
First, we have to start with the target user. Milwaukee doesn’t make tools primarily aimed at DIYers and homeowners—it’s a professional brand. So, a pressure washer is going to have to meet the needs of Pros.
If you’re looking to battery power, it’s easy to assume standard tasks like driveway cleaning are out. But with a surface cleaner, you can cover a 4-car driveway in 30 – 45 minutes, so let’s not throw out that possibility. If Milwaukee can get 3000 PSI and give us 45 minutes or so to work with, I think we’re in business.
Also keep in mind that local regulations are tightening down on small gas engines. Plus, you have client preference to consider. Either way, having a battery-powered pressure washer service option has a higher startup cost and by extension, the service you provide has a premium job cost for the client. A $200 driveway job might be $250 or higher if the demand is there. Your ROI on the equipment and extra batteries could be well under a year at that rate.
The Bottom Line
I believe the question surrounding a Milwaukee pressure washer is “when?” rather than “if?”. There are two battery platforms that can potentially support it and the continued electrification of outdoor power equipment is increasing the demand. With Milwaukee’s Pro focus, don’t expect something that’s quickly thrown together. You can guarantee the product team will have a lot of hours working with professionals across multiple trades who use pressure washers to determine their needs and make sure that the final product is ready to meet them.
