Do I Need a Fridge in a Tesla?

Nothing beats the thrill of sipping cold drinks on a hot summer road trip with friends/family taken right from the fridge. Tesla cars make this possible by having a compartment where you can install a small fridge to keep you going on your travels. It also ensures that you’re sorted whenever you buy perishable stuff from the store and you want to get them home while still fresh. So what is a Tesla Fridge, how does it work, and do you need it? We’ll cover everything about it at length in this guide. Let's get started. 

What is a Tesla Fridge?

It's a type of fridge/freezer designed to fit in your Tesla car's driver/passenger sitting area, trunk, or sub-trunk. The refrigerator fits perfectly in the designated placement areas without any modifications to the vehicle. 

How it Works?

  1. Tesla refrigerators have a power adapter (usually 12V) that draws current from the car’s battery. This powers up the compressor, which converts the refrigerant into gaseous form
  2. Next, the refrigerant passes through a condenser to convert to a hot liquid. 
  3. It then circulates around the fridge’s evaporator coils, expanding into a gas while also cooling. This cooling effect allows the fridge's items to remain cool. 
  4. Next, the gas returns to the condenser for conversion into a liquid, and the above process happens repeatedly in a cycle that ensures the interior is cold. 

Types of Tesla Fridges for Your Car

There are numerous car fridge models, but they mainly fall under three primary types:

  • Armrest Car Refrigerator 
  • Sub Trunk Drop in Fridge
  • Trunk Fridge

Armrest Car Refrigerator 

It’s stationed between the driver and front passenger seat  (car central unit) to allow easy access. The fridge is small, with a storage capacity of 5.28 to 9 Quarts, depending on the model. Other features of this fridge include: 

  • A push switch design to facilitate quick opening while driving. 
  • It also doubles as a heater thanks to its three modes: refrigerator, freezer, and warmer.
  • A minimalist design that ensures it doesn’t take up space that could be useful. 
  • Quick refrigeration.  

Sub Trunk Drop-In Fridge 

It’s the largest type of Tesla refrigerator with a guaranteed 20 Quarts of storage space, ensuring it can fit more things. The refrigerator is installed on the floor of the car’s boot and is therefore concealed by the sub-trunk cover. 

Below are its key features:
  • It is easy to install as you simply need to lift the sub-trunk cover and drop it in. 
  • It has Bluetooth connectivity, which is handy for enabling remote access. 
  • Excellent cooling capability with the potential to drop temperatures from 60°F to -8°F in about half an hour. 
  • An extensive temperature range of between -20°C and 20°C. 

Trunk Fridge

It fits perfectly on the side of your car’s boot. It’s smaller than the sub-trunk fridge but still features a decent storage space of 16 Quarts. The fridge design ensures that it fits flush to the boot’s wall and thus takes up no space in the boot. 

Other key features include: 

  • A maximum power output of 45W means that it saves energy. 
  • It also has a rapid cooling capacity to cool its contents in about 20 minutes. 
tesla fridge

How to Install it?

Installation criteria depend on which Tesla refrigerator you have. But generally, it’s a quick process, as the fridge types are designed to fit perfectly into their respective compartments. 

Tesla Sub Trunk  Drop-In Fridge Installation

  • You simply drop it into the car’s sub-trunk storage area, as its name suggests. 
  • The fridge has a 6-foot power cord that can run from the SUV trunk to the armrest area. Connect it to the 10V adapter on the armrest, and it will be ready for use. 
  • Next, don’t cover it with the sub-trunk cover, as it will hamper its heat dissipation. We recommend the vented plastic-type supplied with the fridge if you use a cover. 

Tesla Trunk Fridge Installation

  • Remove the sub-trunk cover to reveal the cavity on the side of the boot where the fringe casing should be inserted. Insert it and connect the 12V power supply to its port, which is usually on the walls of this cavity. 
  • Screw the fridge on its cavity to ensure it's sturdy. Attach the door and lay back the sub-trunk cover; the refrigerator is ready. 

Armrest Car Refrigerator Installation

  • You don’t require any tool to install this fridge. Simply plug it in the cavity on the car’s space between the driver seat and the front passenger. 

Why do you Need a Fridge in a Tesla?

A fridge in a car is crucial in the following ways. 

  • It ensures you have cooled drinks on road trips or expeditions on a hot summer day. 
  • It’s also the perfect place to store refreshing drinks like protein shakes and water for gym/workout enthusiasts.  
  • Thirdly, a fridge is a great accompaniment when camping because it helps you keep your food fresh. 
  • It ensures that food leftovers are always kept fresh when you’re in the car. 
  • It’s also the perfect accompaniment when shopping for fresh/perishable products such as vegetables and meat. 

Cons:

While having a fridge in your car promises all the convenience you can wish for, it also has its fair share of cons. 

  • The fridge runs on the car battery and can overdraw current, leaving it so low. This means you can’t start your car or perform other crucial things that rely on the battery.
  • Leaving your car in the sun for a long time causes the fridge contents to warm up fast, making the fridge work hard. Again, this will encourage quick battery drain. 
tesla car fridge

How to Improve Car Tesla Fridge Performance?

You can overcome the above cons by taking measures to optimize the performance of your Tesla refrigerator. Here’s what to do. 

  • Freeze your foods and drinks on your home fridge before stocking them on your Tesla car fridge, especially if you’ll be out for a long time. 
  • Insulating your fridge with a cover also helps shield it from the outside ambient temperatures. 
  • Keep the fridge well-ventilated by ensuring the fans have a clear pathway to the surrounding areas.  
  • Refrain from leaving your car in the sun for long to prevent it from overheating the contents of the Tesla refrigerator. 
  • Don’t overload the fridge to prevent it from overworking. However, ensure it is filled well; a well-filled fridge is more efficient than a half-filled one. 
  • Avoid frequently opening the fridge unnecessarily to keep the cool air inside. Constant opening will overwork the compressor and hasten battery drain. 

How to Choose the Ideal Tesla Fridge for Your Car?

Don’t just buy any Tesla refrigerator you find on the internet. Instead, do your due diligence to ensure it fits your needs and observe the measures below. 

  • Start by determining where to place the fridge to ensure you get the right size. 
  • Always choose a fridge with a high energy efficiency rating. The battery current is also valuable for powering other crucial functions. 
  • Be keen on having a fridge with excellent insulation. It’ll help keep stuff cool fast while lowering the compressor's burden. 
  • Choose a compressor Tesla car fridge over a thermodynamic type. While the latter is better in energy conservation, it's unfit for outdoor use. 
  • Check out for features like LED lighting, a digital display, and an excellent user interface. 
  • Buy a fridge that fits your intended use. If you aim to stock more stuff, a sub-trunk Tesla car fridge will be a better addition than an armrest type. 

Prices

Tesla car fridges have no fixed price, as it depends on the model and the manufacturer. But we’ll give you a rough figure so you’ll know what to expect when shopping for one. 

  • A drop-in 20-liter sub trunk fridge costs around $599. 
  • A 16-liter trunk fridge for a Tesla Model Y costs about $399.
  • A 9 Quart Armrest Refrigerator costs $279.

How Long Can You Run A Tesla Fridge?

The duration a car fridge stays on will depend on several factors, such as its efficiency and the amount of battery charge.  When fully charged, a 12V battery can run your fridge for a day on a relatively warm day. 

Conclusion

Tesla car fridges come in handy to give you the ultimate comfort when driving on a hot summer day. While expensive to set up, they’re worth all their hype, especially considering the convenience they provide for your drives. You can choose from the three types we’ve covered based on your needs and get everything set up in a few quick installation steps. Get it done right-away and make your summer trips more remarkable and cool! 


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