Reducing the number of power switches in a cordless power tool

A battery pack may include at least one battery cell, a discharge switch coupled to the at least one battery cell, and monitoring and control circuitry responsive to a position of a trigger of an associated cordless power tool to provide a control signal to the discharge switch. The discharge switch may be responsive to the control signal to control a discharge current provided to a load of the cordless power tool. The load may be a motor driving an element of the cordless power tool.