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A cooler is a great way to maintain food and beverage temperature over a short period of time. Even the best name-brand coolers are good for about a day, and they are only optimal if the items being stowed are already cold and they receive regular ice refills. If you are going to be away for a longer period of time or just don’t feel like dealing with the hassle of loading up ice, an electric cooler is a great way to make your adventure easier. 12v 24v Dc Compressor For Hvac System
Some electric coolers are battery-powered, some require being plugged in at all times and some are a combination of both. Depending on your needs, one of these methods is best for you. All of them remove the need for ice and the puddles and mess that can come with that. Some can be recharged even while they are keeping your food cool. If there is an outlet, there is an ice-less way to keep your food cool. Whatever your next trip has in store, these plug-in coolers are ready for the journey.
Igloo Thermoelectric Plug-in 12V Cooler
12V DC operation, 8-ft long power cord, swing-up bale handle, ice-less cooling
Igloo Thermoelectric Plug-in 12V Cooler
Insulated, portable, 12V DC operation
40-130 degree F temperature range, 2 x 6-ft power cords for wall socket and 12V cigarette lighter outlet
Dometic’s CFX3 line-up is one of the best on the powered cooler market. There are seven different sizes available ranging from 25 liters to 99 liters, including a 75-liter and 95-liter dual-zone version. These powered coolers draw 50.7 watts of power while cooling—even to sub-zero temperatures—which is less power than a typical 60-watt household light bulb. To top it off, the CFX3 offers better temperature control and insulation quality than other powered coolers in its class.
While some of these items are designed for compact and flexible storage, sometimes you just want the best and biggest cooler. If you are a truck driver or have an RV or pickup for a long road trip, you may want a big, powerful cooler that keeps plenty of items cool for the long haul. Made by ARB, the same folks that build popular and respected off-road truck accessories, this sturdy cooler/freezer can handle an impressive 50 quarts and can keep things cold even in extreme heat. Some users report extended use in 100+ degree weather without an issue. It’s user-friendly and comes with an easy-to-read digital display that allows you to set the temperature and monitor the cooler’s performance.
Igloo Iceless 28-Quart Electric Cooler
Igloo is one of the top names in coolers and that name recognition extends to electric coolers. This cooler is helpful because it can be used both as a traditional cooler and a powered cooler. It has a familiar design, including an easy flip-up lid and swinging carry handle. This cooler features an updated design with a higher load floor that keeps cooler items farther away from warmer items. The modular lid allows for easy operation of both heating and cooling. It’s capable of cooling items up to 36 degrees Fahrenheit below the ambient temperature.
One of the biggest setbacks to most electric coolers is that when they are not in use, they take up a lot of space. Like conventional soft coolers, the Koolatron D25 can pack up small, which is great for a road trip or off-season storage. Incredibly, it operates as both a cooler and a warmer from as low as 40 degrees to as high as 135 degrees. Its soft design is not without creature comforts as it has exterior pockets and cupholders.
When you’re on a road trip, you want quick and easy access to drinks and snacks. This unit fits neatly behind the front seats or can act as a center console for rear seat passengers. The integrated cup holders also mean you can temporarily keep items there while you’re reorganizing items in the cooler. If you own an older truck or SUV that doesn’t have a center console, this item can fit perfectly between the seats or in the middle of the bench. This cooler comes with a helpful carrying strap and it weighs just nine pounds, making it a great unit to remove from the vehicle and take with you on a picnic.
Igloo Thermoelectric Plug-in 12V Cooler
12V DC operation, 8-ft long power cord, swing-up bale handle, ice-less cooling
Igloo Thermoelectric Plug-in 12V Cooler
Insulated, portable, 12V DC operation
40-130 degree F temperature range, 2 x 6-ft power cords for wall socket and 12V cigarette lighter outlet
Compressor-type coolers work like a refrigerator, which means all of the pros and cons that come with them. They keep food colder longer and they make food colder quicker. But this power and speed come at a price. They consume power at a higher rate and they cost more—in some cases, much more. These coolers run off AC power and need a dedicated electrical outlet. Many newer trucks come with AC outlets rated for this exact purpose.
Electric-only coolers are not as powerful, so they are better at keeping food that’s already cold at the desired temperature. They run on the DC power supplied by your vehicle’s 12-volt power outlet. Then there are the combo-power units that are used in camping and RV applications. They can run on propane, as well as 12-volt or 120-volt power sources, but they are not as portable.
The best cooler will be a compromise between cost and cooling effectiveness. If you must have truly ice-cold drinks that stay ice-cold for hours even with the cooler shut off, you’ll need to invest in an expensive DC cooler like the Dometic CFX3 45. If you just need to take the edge off and only have a couple hundred bucks to spend, spring for an AC cooler like the Igloo Iceless.
Getting away from it all (and other people) is more important than ever. You need one of the most popular pieces of equipment for overlanding, van life or daily family routines: an electric cooler. They don’t require ice, eliminate the usual leaky mess and do double duty while charging your phone or keeping your food warm. Plug it into a 12-volt adapter or wall outlet to chill your drinks on the way to the lake and warm your barbecue on the way home. Here is a selection of great options for plug-in electric coolers for your next getaway.
We evaluate all plug-In coolers on these weighted metrics:
In a car or SUV, you’ll want to be able to open a cooler from the top. Older trucks might have a space between the front seats for these units, but most modern vehicles have a center console that obscures this placement. As long as they are tall enough, you can reach right behind the front center console from the front seats. If you are on an RV or at a campsite, it doesn’t matter if it opens from the top or side, but if your campsite is exposed, you’ll want a lid that secures very tightly.
If you are going to be on the road or away from a traditional refrigerator for a long time, it’s definitely helpful to have a compressor-type cooler. The electric versions are designed for on-off use to regulate temperature, but they can wear out over extended use. A compressor-style cooler is designed for sustained operation and will be better suited for the long haul. If you are a trucker, on a road trip or even in a boat on a long journey, these types of coolers are helpful.
You’ll need to keep the vehicle running to ensure the battery does not drain. At the very least, you’ll need to run the motor intermittently to ensure the battery stays adequately charged. Run the plug-in cooler too long and it will drain the battery. Want to make sure you aren’t stranded? Keep a jumper cable or portable jump starter just in case, such as one tested by Forbes Wheels.
Some of these devices can keep warm food warm, just as they can keep cold food cold. But unlike cold items and optionally adding more ice, there’s no good way to supplement the warming efforts of these coolers. The best way to ensure warm food stays warm is to pack it warm, to begin with. It’s a cooler/warmer—not an oven.
George Kennedy has reviewed cars and provided car advice for outlets such as Consumer Reports, CarGurus, U.S. News & World Report, the Boston Globe, AutoBlog and others. He is the managing editor for UpShift, the official publication of the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline, Massachusetts. George has owned multiple future-classics before they were collectible, including a 1986 Toyota 4Runner, an XJ Jeep Cherokee and a two-door Chevy Tahoe.
Electric Scroll Compressor I’m an automotive lifestyle writer with a passion for vehicles and accessories designed for outdoor adventure. I specialize in connecting the open road with the road less traveled, covering the latest advancements in off-roading, overlanding, and campervan-specific gear. My work has appeared in Digital Trends, Gear Junkie, Trucks.com, ROVA Magazine and several other print and online publications.