The High-Tech Stove That’s Also a Home Battery

One of the minor culture wars in America has to do with electric stoves. To some, they're more energy efficient and better for air quality. To others, electric stove requirements represent government overreach, and a loss of freedom to use a gas range. Impulse Labs wants to change the whole conversation. The company produces an induction stove — very different than most electric stoves — that it claims can not only produce superior food, but can also be a catalyst for electrification, thanks to its built-in battery storage. On this episode, we visited the Impulse offices in San Francisco to try out the stove ourselves and talk to CEO Sam D'Amico about the company's vision. We also discuss how a stove maker based in the US thinks about the grid, tariffs, buying batteries, and other challenges that come with selling a physical consumer product. This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

Key Insights from the pod:
Why launch a stove company in 2024? — 3:21
How a batteries leads to better pizza — 4:20
Why Americans hate electric stoves — 6:51
Boiling a pot of water in 40 seconds — 8:30
How the Impulse stove can be part of a larger home battery system — 11:57
The sensor technology powering this new stove — 18:44
Where new batteries will come from — 22:01
The cost to buy this stove — 24:48
How Germany made home solar easier — 27:33
Getting VC funding for hardware — 30:53
Will this make cooking too easy? — 37:39
The safety of in-home batteries — 39:35
The gas vs. electric culture war — 43:36