Copper, the Berkeley-based startup behind the first induction stove with a built-in battery, has unveiled a second-generation model designed to make clean cooking easier for more households. The Charlie 2.0 is a plug-and-play electric range that can draw power from a standard 120-volt outlet, avoiding the need for a 240-volt socket or an electrical service upgrade.
The new version is more powerful than its predecessor: each burner delivers 3,000 watts, a 7% improvement, and the oven preheats to 350°F in about four minutes—more than four times faster than many gas ovens, according to the company. The range can also plug into 240-volt outlets, giving it a wider fit across homes. Global appliance maker Miele will manufacture the Charlie 2.0 at its first U.S. plant in Opelika, Alabama. Copper says it is the first time Miele has produced another brand's appliance.
The product targets the more than 40 million households cooking with gas, which emits pollutants linked to health problems. Induction cooking heats pans via electromagnetism and is faster, safer, and easier to clean, but conventional electric ranges often require expensive wiring work. Copper and other startups such as Impulse Labs and Electra Research embed batteries to sidestep that cost. The Charlie 2.0 starts at $6,799, includes a 5-kilowatt-hour battery, and can scramble more than 300 eggs during an outage, per Copper. The company says it has sold thousands of units and is working with New York City on a pilot of plug-in stoves in public housing.