Outdoors

Furrion's battery-swapping, rolling electric cooler confidently caters campsites without the ice

Furrion's battery-swapping, rolling electric cooler confidently caters campsites without the ice
The Furrion rolls to camp with a collapsible handle and grippy wheels
The Furrion rolls to camp with a collapsible handle and grippy wheels
View 12 Images
A look at the internal structure of the Furrion Rova
1/12
A look at the internal structure of the Furrion Rova
The Rova includes an LCD screen for monitoring temperature and battery level and controls for adjusting settings
2/12
The Rova includes an LCD screen for monitoring temperature and battery level and controls for adjusting settings
Furrion plans to add things like the attachable side table/worktop in the future
3/12
Furrion plans to add things like the attachable side table/worktop in the future
Furrion takes refrigeration on the trail with modular power and an easy-roll design
4/12
Furrion takes refrigeration on the trail with modular power and an easy-roll design
Making some snacks with the Furrion Rova
5/12
Making some snacks with the Furrion Rova
The Furrion rolls to camp with a collapsible handle and grippy wheels
6/12
The Furrion rolls to camp with a collapsible handle and grippy wheels
After boarding the Adonis smart yacht, we step back down to Earth and see a smaller example of Furrion technology
7/12
After boarding the Adonis smart yacht, we step back down to Earth and see a smaller example of Furrion technology
The retractable handle doubles as a support for the worktop
8/12
The retractable handle doubles as a support for the worktop
A look inside the cooling compartment of the Furrion Rova
9/12
A look inside the cooling compartment of the Furrion Rova
The battery is lightweight and easy to handle, making for quick, reliable swapping should you carry an extra or two
10/12
The battery is lightweight and easy to handle, making for quick, reliable swapping should you carry an extra or two
You can see the battery module docked on the left and the digital controls on the face
11/12
You can see the battery module docked on the left and the digital controls on the face
A dual charger for Furrion's E-Pod batteries
12/12
A dual charger for Furrion's E-Pod batteries
View gallery - 12 images

Along with showing smart yachts and luxury glampers, Furrion used this year's CES to present its new Outdoor Living lineup, a series of smart products designed for tailgating and outdoor entertaining. Chief among those products is the Rova, an iceless cooler that's essentially an electric fridge-freezer on wheels, offering up to a week of cooling power. It's a great solution for van lifers, car campers and others who want to keep their food cold for days on end without being tied to a vehicle or having to deal with melting ice.

Not to be confused with the Rovr cooler from Rollr, the Rova (say that 10 times) is essentially a more portable answer to the electric fridge-freezers commonly equipped to the likes of camper vans and teardrop trailers. Furrion is marketing it as an "iceless cooler," but it does admit that it's really a wheeled fridge-freezer.

The Rova relies on a removable 400-Wh "E-Pod" battery module that drops into place in a dedicated compartment separate from the food compartment. This battery provides enough juice to chill food for up to seven days, and pulls out easily for charging or swapping. It can be charged via shore power or using a 12V cigarette lighter adaptor or available solar kit. Those willing to buy a spare battery or two will be able to keep the compressor running even more easily.

The Rova also includes a built-in charging station with three USB ports and Qi wireless, allowing campers and tailgaters to tap into the battery to keep their devices fired up.

You can see the battery module docked on the left and the digital controls on the face
You can see the battery module docked on the left and the digital controls on the face

It sounds as though keeping the Rova charged won't be a problem for most campers and tailgaters, but should the electricity stop flowing, the poly foam-insulated cooler compartment can also be filled with ice. Furrion says it'll retain ice for up to 10 days.

The 36-L Rova offers enough space for up to 48 cans of beer. It has three selectable cooling modes: beverage, eco and freeze. In "freeze" mode, the Rova can drop temperatures right down to -8 ºF (-22 ºC), but then it turns into a dedicated freezer since there's only one food compartment.

A look at the internal structure of the Furrion Rova
A look at the internal structure of the Furrion Rova

Also separating the Rova from other fridge-freezers are the wheels and retractable handle that allow for easy rolling. The model at CES featured an airless rubber wheel/tire design, but the Furrion rep we spoke to wasn't sure if that would make it to production. The cooler weighs roughly 45 lb (20 kg) with the battery installed (38 lb/17 kg without) before you put any food in it.

Furrion plans to get the Rova to market by June 2019 for a price around US$799, not including battery. The E-Pod battery will run around $299, so just under $1,000 for the full kit. That's quite expensive in comparison to roto-molded ice chests but not far off similarly sized 12V fridge-freezers like the $900 Wi-Fi-equipped Dometic CFX 35W. Considering the advantages of the modular battery and wheeled design, the Rova seems competitively priced.

Furrion plans to add accessories like an attachable worktop, cup holders and an umbrella mount in the future.

Source: Furrion

View gallery - 12 images
2 comments
2 comments
Leonard Foster Jr
Ahhh i little high on the price you can get 12volt coolers for far less ?
Thinker
Man, at 45 lb empty, add two cases of beer, you’ll need a crane to lift it out of your vehicle