It sounds amazing, and yet it totally isnt.
Power pads will be built into the countertop and willdeliver up to 2,200 Wattsto compatible gadgets sitting on top.
The sales pitch is obviouskitchen appliances without wires.
Don’t try this at home.WPC/YouTube
But the reality is less appealing.
On the face of it, it looks neat.
Inductive coils will eventually be set into the countertops, able to pass power through standard-thickness, non-metallic materials.
There’s the Ki pad, on the left.WPC/YouTube
In return, you get to use your appliances cable-free.
Apart from the cable running across the countertop from the wall socket to your charging pad, that it.
But is this even desirable?
After all, most of your appliances sit on the counter and stay plugged in.
Toasters and kettles dont need to be wireless.
And is it really such a hassle to plug in the KitchenAid mixer when youre baking cakes?
You still have to drag it out of the kitchen cupboard anyway.
Plus, youre going to have to buy a new KitchenAid if the company even makes a Ki version.
Requiring users to replace functioning appliances for compatibility raises environmental concerns.
Wireless may suit some residential needs but likely won’t replace wires for most kitchen tasks anytime soon.
New tech should provide real benefits to justify replacement, which wireless charging doesn’t yet for appliances.
Waste
Then theres the wastage.
Inductive charging is inefficient.
Then, we get to the practicality of actually using these things.
Just push the mixer off to the side to make some space.
But no, you cant!
Dont you wish you still had that KitchenAid mixer, with its cable, that could be placed anywhere?
Not one that actually gets used, anyway.
