Tesla launched a cooler designed to fit in the Cybertruck’s frunk, but missed the opportunity to create something truly useful. Instead of a powered cooler (or freezer) that could use the Cybertruck’s 48-volt connection, Tesla went with a passive cooler design. For a $700 price tag, this has to be good.
There’s no shortage of overpriced accessories on the market, and Tesla Cybertruck owners know this all too well. Last year, Tesla promised to have a special team to design Cybertruck accessories. However, supply is still limited, and third-party suppliers are discouraged by the low volumes offered by a relatively small Cybertruck fleet. This is crucial, considering the Cybertruck’s 48-volt electrical system, which means very few powered accessories can be used in the electric pickup.
However, even as Tesla designs accessories for the Cybertruck, it misses the opportunity to fill this gap in the market. The latest addition to the Tesla Shop is a Cybertruck-inspired, stainless steel-wrapped Cybertruck Cooler that can fit in the truck’s frunk. Even though the Cybertruck has a 48-volt connection in the frunk, Tesla chose to ignore it and offer the Cybertruck cooler without active cooling. Instead of a compressor, the cooler relies on ice cubes to keep things cold.
To be fair, that’s why it’s called a “cooler” and not a “fridge,” but that doesn’t explain why Tesla chose this option. I’m sure whoever invents a 48-volt fridge to fit in the Cybertruck frunk will have a lot of orders lined up. Tesla is doubly at fault here, first because they didn’t install an AC outlet in the Cybertruck frunk, and second because they didn’t offer a powered fridge. At the very least, the former would have allowed owners to use a wide variety of small fridges on the market.
The Cybertruck cooler is quite large, at 38 x 16 x 12.5 inches (97 x 41 x 32 cm), and offers about 56 liters of storage. It can chill about 90 cans of beverages at a time, enough to throw a block party (or should I say a frunk party?). The cooler is also heavy, at 31 pounds (14 kg) empty, and comes with two ice cube trays and pretty much nothing else. It’s also nice that the cooler doesn’t take up all of the space inside the Cyberfrunk. At the same time, the little space it does leave on either side isn’t very useful.
Tesla promises that the “Cybercooler” is worth the money thanks to its stainless steel casing and high-quality insulation. The description says the latter will help keep perishables “ice cold for days at a time.” It’s a bold claim, and one we’ve yet to see demonstrated in real life. And it better happen because, at $700, this luxury box is insanely expensive. Similar-sized electric freezers retail for half that price while still offering better cooling. Meanwhile, you can find passive coolers for much less.