This is a project proposal put together by myself and a friend with the goal to find investment and develop the product for manufacture and distribution. When we both realized we could no longer commit time to the project, it became committed to a portfolio piece and put on the back-burner for the day one of us had the capital to pursue it.
The use of electric hobs account for between 2% and 8% of electricity bills in the average household. Electric kettles accounts for a further 2 - 7% of that bill.
With increased pressure on power grids and resulting electricity price hikes, the gas hob has become an increasingly popular option for home kitchens, given that the price of gas is notably lower than that of electricity, particularly in countries like South Africa, where renewable energy is greatly underutilized.
The problem with gas hobs, however is their safety profile and ecological impact. Most gas hobs have a thermal efficiency score of between 32% and 40%, because the majority of the heat generated by the flames leaks out from under the pot or pan and into the kitchen. Inefficient burners also leak methane which is toxic
Our gas hob plates sport a sunken design which concentrates the heat where it's needed (below the cooking vessel) and restricts heat leakage, allowing for a more efficient transfer of heat to the cooking vessel. The air to gas ratio would be electronically controlled with the aid of sensors to minimize the production of toxic fumes in the burning process
Another hurdle for the gas hob market has been hesitation by the more design-conscious consumer, who happens to make up a large percentage of the upper-income market segment. A great portion of this market also seeks a more elegant solution to stove-top kettles, that feels modern, safer and more automated.
Our gas hob boasts a minimal, elegant design and is controlled with a sleek and intuitive touch-screen and digital controls, allowing for automatic fail-safes, such as time and temperature based automatic shut-off. It would include device connectivity and app integration, allowing for timer-based and remote function.
Our hob includes a dedicated kettle station and integrated stove-top kettle. The kettle includes its own set of fail safes, such as magnetic locators to ensure safe and optimal placement of the kettle in relation to it's burner, touch sensors that only allow burning when the kettle is correctly placed on the burner and a temperature sensor inside the kettle for automatic termination once the water reaches boiling point
