Two battery power supplies sold through Canadian retailers, the Milwaukee M18 CARRY-ON 2845-20 at $899.98 at BMR and the EGO POWER+ Nexus PST3041 at $1,899 CAD at RONA, run tools and small loads without exhaust. That is the main reason to look at them before a gas generator for a garage, a basement or a winter outage.
Why consider a battery power supply instead of a gas generator?
Health Canada’s guidance on generators is strict: never operate one indoors, keep it at least 6 metres (20 feet) from buildings, point the exhaust away from open windows and doors, and remember that an automatic carbon monoxide shutoff does not replace carbon monoxide alarms. A battery unit has no exhaust. Milwaukee describes the 2845-20 as emissions-free and usable indoors, underground and in confined spaces.
Health Canada’s page is about generators and does not name battery units, so read it as the reason the question matters, not as a verdict on any product.
What do the Milwaukee and EGO units offer?
| Milwaukee M18 CARRY-ON 2845-20 | EGO Nexus PST3041 | |
|---|---|---|
| Output | 3600 starting watts, 1800 running watts | 3,000 W peak, 2,000 W continuous |
| Weight | 28 lbs | 44.31 lb (20.1 kg) |
| Batteries | Fits all M18 batteries, runs on up to 4 at a time | Four 56 V 5.0 Ah batteries and charger included |
| Canadian listing | $899.98 at BMR | $1,899 CAD at RONA |
The Milwaukee unit has two outlets, a USB-C PD port and a USB-A port, runs at 66 dB(A), charges M18 batteries at 3A when it is not discharging, and has lockable battery bays. Milwaukee says it is rated for one 15A tool and must not exceed its limits. The page has a runtime chart for HD12.0 and XC5.0 batteries, but the values are not in the text, so no runtime figure is given here.
The EGO unit has 3 x 120 V AC outlets and 4 USB ports, pure sine wave output and an LED display showing remaining run time. CompactEquip, citing EGO, lists 1,120 Wh with four 5.0 Ah batteries and 1,680 Wh with four 7.5 Ah batteries, and says only one battery is needed to operate it. Warranty is 5-year on the tool and 3-year on the battery.
Milwaukee also sells a larger MX FUEL CARRY-ON (MXF002-1HD812) with 3600 peak watts and 1800 continuous watts on one or two MX FUEL HD12.0 batteries. Milwaukee says two batteries double the runtime. Its page lists no price.
What does it cost, and can you buy one in Canada?
BMR, a Canadian retailer, lists the M18 CARRY-ON 2845-20 at $899.98, though the page does not label the currency, and shows it in stock at one store for pickup. RONA lists the EGO PST3041 at $1,899 CAD but says it is not currently available for immediate purchase, with estimated delivery of 7 to 14 days through a selected store.
EGO’s own page labels the station as Coming Soon, which does not match RONA’s listing, so confirm stock with a retailer before you plan around it.
Who it suits
- Tradesperson already on M18: the 2845-20 uses batteries you own, so the main cost is the unit. Check that your tool fits within the 15A rating Milwaukee gives.
- Homeowner planning for outages: the EGO PST3041 includes four batteries, which raises the price. The sources give no runtime for a furnace or a fridge, so list the wattage of what you plan to run first.
- Crew leader or fleet buyer on MX FUEL: the MXF002 CARRY-ON uses your MX FUEL batteries and charges up to two of them, but Milwaukee lists no price.
- Anyone who needs hours of heavy load: neither maker’s page gives a runtime in hours for a stated load, so ask the maker for its rated runtime before you buy.
- First time buyer: with the Milwaukee unit, add the cost of M18 batteries if you have none. Every unit in this guide should still sit next to working carbon monoxide alarms if you also run fuel burning appliances, as Health Canada advises.
Next step: check current price and stock at BMR and RONA, and read Health Canada’s carbon monoxide page before choosing between a battery unit and a generator.
