
Someone please buy me this battery-powered, plug-in induction range from CES
I don’t want or need 99 percent of the things on display at CES—don’t get me wrong, most of what we see this week is impressive. One Way or anotherbut nothing seemed like a necessary addition to my life until I came across Copper Charlie, a battery-powered induction cooktop that plugs directly into a standard 120V outlet. Yes, among robots, future cars, bionic exoskeletons and other artificial intelligence I’m worried about the stove (okay, furry robot this is very cool).
Until a few years ago, I had no idea that natural gas cooktops bad for your healthnot to mention the environment. Unfortunately, if your home is connected to gas, switching to electricity is neither easy nor cheap. Almost all full-size induction cooktops require a dedicated 240V outlet, and if you don’t have one near your stove, you’ll likely be calling an electrician in the future.
The Charlie is a full-size oven and range that includes a ceramic cooktop, a 4.5-cubic-foot oven, and a built-in 5-kWh battery. This battery allows the stove to operate from a standard outlet, storing a charge that can increase power output when it’s time to cook (it can also cook three to five meals during a power outage).
Externally, this series has a truly high-end look with a large LCD display, wooden dials and knobs, stainless steel finishes and clean lines. It also has a high-end price tag of $6,000. It should qualify for a 30 percent tax credit under the Inflation Relief Act, so it could cost about $4,200 instead.
If you purchased a standard induction oven, you will likely have to pay to rewire the 240V outlet. This should not cost you more than $500 for the average home. Although, if you are dealing with an older home with complex wiring, this price may rise, and if you live in an apartment, this may not be an option at all. So, after taking into account the discount and subtracting the cost of remodeling the outlet since you don’t need it, it’s still about $3,500 for Charlie. It’s cheaper than some induction cookers and more expensive than others, but it’s worth it because none of these models have a battery backup that will allow you to cook mac and cheese when the power goes out.
Charlie from Copper is expected to go on sale this April. open for pre-orders.
2025-01-08 16:02:50