ICECO’s two best-known 12V fridges take different approaches. The VL45 is a 45-liter (47.5-quart) single-zone metal fridge-freezer with a SECOP compressor, a 0°F to 50°F range and a $559 list price on ICECO’s U.S. store. The APL35 is a 37-quart dual-zone model with an aluminum body, a SECOP Nano compressor, Bluetooth app control and a 32-pound weight, listed at $759, according to ICECO’s product pages and Amazon listings checked Oct. 17, 2026. This review compares specs, power use and battery runtime, and explains which ICECO fridge fits which kind of trip.
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Specs come from ICECO’s U.S. product pages for the VL45 and APL35 and from Amazon listings for the ICECO VL45 and the ICECO APL35. Runtime figures are our calculations, and we label our assumptions. We haven’t run our own cool-down test yet.
ICECO VL45 vs APL35 Specs
| Spec | ICECO VL45 | ICECO APL35 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 45 L (47.5 qt) | 35 L (37 qt) |
| Zones | Single zone (fridge or freezer) | Dual zone (fridge/freezer, freezer/fridge or single mode) |
| Temperature range | 0°F to 50°F (−18 to 10°C) | −4°F to 68°F (−20 to 20°C) |
| Compressor | SECOP | SECOP Nano |
| Body | Metal shell | Aluminum body and lid |
| Power input | 12/24V DC, 110–240V AC (both cords included) | 12/24V DC, 100–240V AC |
| Modes | MAX (fast) / ECO (efficient) | MAX / ECO |
| Battery protection | 3 levels (Low, Mid, High) | Not listed on ICECO’s page |
| App | No | Bluetooth (ICECO app, iOS and Android) |
| Weight | 49.2 lb (Amazon listing) | 32 lb |
| Dimensions | About 27.4 × 15.8 × 19.3 in (Amazon listing) | About 27 × 14.4 × 15.7 in (Amazon listing) |
| Noise | Not listed | 32dB (Amazon listing) |
| Power figures | 55W average running; 0.347kWh per 24 h (ICECO lab data) | Not published on ICECO’s page |
| Warranty | 5 years compressor, 1 year other parts | 5 years compressor, 1 year other parts |
| ICECO list price (Oct. 17, 2026) | $559 | $759 |
ICECO VL45 Review: The Big Single-Zone Workhorse
The VL45 is ICECO’s classic overlanding fridge. You get 45 liters in one zone that you set as either a fridge or a freezer, from 0°F up to 50°F. ICECO points to three design details:
- Spring-loaded stainless ring-pull handles that fold away when not in use.
- A tight lock latch and sealing tape to improve insulation.
- Corner protection to reduce damage from shaking on rough roads.
On Amazon, ICECO adds that the SECOP compressor keeps running at up to a 40° tilt. The VL45 also has an interior light, two removable wire baskets and a height that ICECO says fits under a pickup tonneau cover.
The VL45 comes with both an AC cable and a DC cord, with separate AC and DC ports on the unit. It runs from a wall outlet at home and from 12V or 24V in a vehicle. The three-level battery protection shuts it off before it drains your starter battery, and you pick the cutoff level.
Power use. ICECO’s own FAQ lists a 55W average running wattage and 0.347kWh per 24 hours, and labels both as laboratory data for reference only. That daily number works out to about 14.5W averaged over a day. The compressor cycles: it draws around 55W while it runs, then stops.
ICECO APL35 Review: Light, Dual-Zone and App-Controlled
The APL35 is ICECO’s lighter, more modern design. Its aluminum body brings the weight to 32 pounds, about 17 pounds less than the VL45. ICECO calls it the first all-aluminum car fridge on its Amazon listing, and says the aluminum helps with heat dissipation.
- Dual-zone control. Two compartments can run as fridge and freezer at the same time, or the APL35 can run as a single zone. The range reaches −4°F for the freezer side and 68°F at the warm end.
- SECOP Nano compressor. ICECO’s Amazon listing says it cools from 77°F to 32°F in 11 minutes and runs at 32dB.
- Zero-gravity hinge. The lid hovers at any angle between 45° and 110°.
- Bluetooth app. Monitor and set both zones from your phone with the ICECO app.
- Magnetic front. A built-in iron tab holds ICECO’s magnetic PB250 battery (sold separately) for extra runtime off the vehicle.
Amazon lists it in silver and black (APL35 Black), both at $759 as of Oct. 17, 2026.
Power and Battery Runtime: Worked Examples
For the VL45, we use ICECO’s 0.347kWh per 24 hours (lab figure). Real use depends on outside heat, how often you open the lid and the set temperature. In hot weather we plan for about double (our assumption). ICECO doesn’t publish a daily figure for the APL35, so for planning we use the same range and label it an assumption.
| Power source | Usable energy (our estimate) | Runtime at 0.35kWh/day | Runtime at 0.7kWh/day (hot weather) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 | ~1,200Wh | ~3.4 days | ~1.7 days |
| 1,024Wh power station (12V car port) | ~920Wh | ~2.6 days | ~1.3 days |
| 288Wh DC station (12V car port) | ~260Wh | ~18 hours | ~9 hours |
| 250Wh ICECO PB250 (rated) | ~225Wh | ~15 hours | ~8 hours |
Worked example, a weekend with solar. A VL45 on a 1,024Wh station in summer uses about 0.7kWh a day, or 1.4kWh over a two-day trip. A 200W panel giving about 800Wh a day (4 sun hours) covers the daily use with some left over. Our 12V fridge with battery guide and power station for a fridge guide go deeper into sizing.
Worked example, the starter battery. Running from the car’s 12V socket overnight, use the VL45’s three-level battery protection. Choose the level that shuts the fridge off with the most charge left in a starter battery, and check ICECO’s manual for the cutoff voltages of each level. For multi-day camps, a separate house battery or power station is the safer setup.
Worked example, cooling down. Pre-cool the fridge on AC at home the night before. Starting a trip already cold saves the high-draw pull-down period on battery.
VL45 Amp Draw on 12V and 24V
Most 12V fridge questions come down to amps and amp-hours. These numbers are our math from ICECO’s lab figures for the VL45 (55W running, 0.347kWh per 24 hours). The hot-weather row uses our doubled-use assumption from above.
| VL45 figure | At 12V | At 24V |
|---|---|---|
| Current while the compressor runs (55W) | ~4.6A | ~2.3A |
| Daily use, ICECO lab figure (347Wh) | ~29Ah per day | ~14.5Ah per day |
| Daily use, hot weather (~700Wh, our assumption) | ~58Ah per day | ~29Ah per day |
| Share of the day the compressor runs (14.5W avg ÷ 55W) | About 26%, or roughly 6 hours in 24 | |
Worked example, sizing a house battery. For a three-day trip in hot weather, 3 × 58Ah ≈ 174Ah at 12V. A single 100Ah LiFePO4 battery covers about a day and a half of that. Add a 200W panel, or plan to recharge from the vehicle while driving.
Value and Weight per Liter
| Measure | VL45 | APL35 |
|---|---|---|
| ICECO list price per liter | ~$12.40 ($559 ÷ 45 L) | ~$21.70 ($759 ÷ 35 L) |
| Weight per liter | ~1.09 lb (49.2 lb ÷ 45 L) | ~0.91 lb (32 lb ÷ 35 L) |
So the VL45 gives you more space per dollar, and the APL35 carries less weight for each liter you get. If you lift the fridge in and out of a vehicle often, that weight difference matters more than the price per liter.
VL45 vs APL35: Which ICECO Fridge to Buy
| If you want… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Most space for the money | VL45 | 45 L for $559 vs 35 L for $759 |
| Fridge and freezer at once | APL35 | Dual-zone control |
| Lightest carry | APL35 | 32 lb vs 49.2 lb |
| Phone monitoring | APL35 | Bluetooth app |
| Published power numbers for planning | VL45 | ICECO lists 55W running and 0.347kWh/day |
| Starter-battery protection settings | VL45 | 3-level protection listed by ICECO |
| Under a tonneau cover | VL45 or APL35 | ICECO designed the VL45’s height for it; the APL35 is shorter at about 15.7 in |
Both mount on ICECO’s fridge slide mount ($269), which is listed for the APL35, JP Pro, VL45, VL35 Pro and VL45 Pro. Our 12V fridge slide guide explains why a slide makes a fridge easier to use in a truck bed or SUV. ICECO also sells insulated covers for both: $99 for the VL45 and $109 for the APL35.
For more models, see our picks for the best 12V fridge for a car and the best 12V fridge for van life, and the how many watts a refrigerator uses explainer.
Packing and Use Tips
- Leave a few inches around the vents so the compressor can shed heat, especially in a closed vehicle.
- Use ECO mode once the fridge reaches temperature, and save MAX mode for the first cool-down.
- Keep the fridge full. Frozen water bottles add thermal mass and cut compressor cycling.
- On the APL35, run the freezer zone for meat and ice and the fridge zone for drinks and produce.
- Close the latch every time. ICECO designed it to keep the seal tight.
FAQ
Is the ICECO VL45 a fridge or a freezer?
Both, but one at a time. It’s a single-zone unit you can set anywhere from 0°F to 50°F.
How much power does the ICECO VL45 use?
ICECO lists a 55W average running wattage and 0.347kWh per 24 hours as lab reference data. Hot weather and frequent opening raise the daily total.
Is the ICECO APL35 dual zone?
Yes. It can run fridge/freezer, freezer/fridge or a single mode, with a −4°F to 68°F range.
Does the APL35 have an app?
Yes. It uses Bluetooth and the ICECO app for iOS and Android to monitor and adjust temperatures.
Can both run on AC power at home?
Yes. The VL45 takes 110–240V AC and includes both AC and DC cords. Amazon lists the APL35 at 12/24V DC and 100–240V AC.
What’s the warranty?
Both carry a 5-year compressor warranty and 1 year on other parts, with U.S.-based support, according to ICECO.
How heavy are they?
The APL35 weighs 32 pounds. Amazon lists the VL45 at 49.2 pounds.
How many amps does the ICECO VL45 draw at 12V?
About 4.6A while the compressor runs, based on ICECO’s 55W running figure. Spread over a day, ICECO’s 0.347kWh lab figure works out to about 29Ah at 12V.
Can the VL45 run on a slope?
Yes. ICECO’s Amazon listing says the SECOP compressor keeps working at up to a 40° tilt, which covers parking on uneven trail campsites.
Bottom Line
Choose the ICECO VL45 if you want the most space per dollar, published power numbers and a proven metal build. Choose the APL35 if you want two zones, Bluetooth control and a fridge that’s about 17 pounds lighter. Check current prices for the ICECO VL45 and the ICECO APL35 on Amazon.