Electric stoves more popular on fine dust pollution
LG DIOS hybrid electric range / Courtesy of LG Electronics
By Baek Byung-yeul
In Korea, most consumers have filled their kitchens with gas ranges, or stoves, rather than electric-powered ranges due to electricity costs being quite high.
However, more consumers are choosing electric stoves these days as they don't release harmful emissions such as carbon monoxide and they are easy to install and manage compared to gas ranges. Also, many consumers here believe they can decorate the interiors of modern style kitchens with electric ranges.
Even though they cost more, electric ranges have quickly become popular as replacements for gas ranges. Industry watchers say the market size of electric ranges here was about 600,000 last year and is expected to reach 800,000 this year.
LG Electronics said consumers who chose electric ranges were 80 percent in the first three months of this year. The company said the ratio was 15 percent in the same period in 2016 and 50 percent last year. LG said its sales of electric ranges increased twice in the first quarter of this year.
With the increasing popularity of electric ranges, companies are expanding their stove lineups with electricity-powered models.
Samsung Electronics announced a new electric range last month. The new electric range is a hybrid model of radiant heat and induction heat. The dual burners provide two induction burners and one radiant burner.
With its flat surface, the company said consumers can use the two induction burners at the same time for heating larger vessels.
In a radiant heat burner, electricity heats the metal coil beneath the glass surface which then heats the cookware on the electric range.
The induction type is relatively new technology. It uses electromagnetism to heat the ingredients of the cookware. This is possible because the magnetic field causes the molecules of iron within the pot or pan to vibrate and this intense friction produces heat. So consumers using induction heat must use cookware containing iron.
LG Electronics also released a new electric range that is equipped with both induction and radiant burners.
The company's DIOS hybrid electric range has two induction heat burners and one radiant heat burner. The company claims the hybrid range's induction heat can shorten cooking time 57 percent compared to gas ranges. It also has Wi-Fi access so that consumers can monitor and control the range.
SK Magic, the leading player in the electric range market, has also rolled out a new hybrid electric range that has two induction burners and one radiant burner.