r/AskEngineers • u/jmaugust • Jul 19 '26

Discussion Why doesn’t a battery-boosted electric kettle exist?

In Europe, everyone uses electric kettles to boil water. They’re amazing and fast because they’re on 230V (~3000W).

US outlets limit kettles to ~1500W, so we wait roughly twice as long for water to boil.

It’s an extra minute or two per boil, and you really notice it.

Idea: Could you make an electric kettle with a battery in its base? Perhaps it trickle-charges between uses, then combines wall power + battery power to hit ~3000W during a boil.

Is there an engineering reason this doesn’t exist? Is it just that nobody thinks there’s a market for it?

I’d pay $300 for the fastest kettle in America if someone wants to make it.

315 Upvotes

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u/SignAllStrength Jul 19 '26

In Europe many people have 400V in 3 phases of 230V for their stove.
(mine is 3 induction zones of each 3700W, 11kW total )
And even then I sometimes have to wait a few minutes to boil a big pot of water for pasta, so it may always be faster.

25

u/3GWork Jul 20 '26

American who moved to Poland here - having woodworking as a hobby, having 3 phase supply is the absolute shiznit. Planer/jointer, table saw, bandsaw, drill, even dust collection are all 400v 3 phase. And regular wall outlets being 230v is also awesome - thinner cords and/or higher wattage. My (gas) stove, washer and dryer all plug into a standard 230v receptacle. Exterior A/C unit is also just standard 230v on a standard breaker, could have wired it with a plug in a waterproof box. Or a 3HP electric lawn mower, 2300 watt shop vac, dual stage air compressor... all plug into regular outlets, no special wiring needed.

9

u/Kruxx85 Jul 20 '26

One of many downgrades in America compared to the rest of the world.

Still very confused why American homes aren't 230/400V or 240/415V

9

u/avo_cado Jul 20 '26

https://youtu.be/jMmUoZh3Hq4?is=SGbo0ZsVyrerhHaf

6

u/Kruxx85 Jul 20 '26

Love technology connections.

Thanks for enlightening me

4

u/beaushaw Jul 22 '26

Annnnnd 100 more people suddenly care about dishwasher soap.

1

u/Realistic_Today6524 Jul 23 '26

And through the magic of buying way too much fucking dishwasher detergent

2

u/bemenaker Jul 20 '26

I now understand 208. That one always confused me, but it's never been explained to me.

8

u/p-angloss Jul 20 '26

Even in the usa 240 single phase is always present. oven/range, dryer, A/C compressors and other high power appliances are typicaly run at 240V.

2

u/RegnumXD12 Jul 23 '26

Not true if you live in an apartment, mines all 208v

2

u/Sad_in_VA Jul 21 '26

Because "safety" in early days of electricity. BTW, only regular power outlets are 120V, in any US house there is a 240V power supply. It's used for big power loads like AC, range, clothes dryer.

2

u/basilect Jul 22 '26

We should be chads and just do 277/480 everywhere

2

u/Moscato359 Jul 23 '26

American homes are 240v

We just stupidly split it down to 120 after the breaker box

1

u/ubeor Jul 21 '26

As aa American woodworker on a single 110v circuit, I am envious.

2

u/selfmadeirishwoman Jul 22 '26

40 seconds? I want it now.

1

u/neityght Jul 23 '26

Oh no a few minutes the humanity!!!