Einhell TE-COL 18/27 Li Review: Cordless Cooler & Warmer Box Tested
In short: the Einhell TE-COL 18/27 Li is an actively cooled (and heated) 27-litre box that runs off an 18V battery, a car's 12V socket, or mains power — it keeps contents cold rather than just insulating ice, unlike a passive cool box. It weighs 5.77 kg and cools to 20°C below ambient temperature, or holds contents warm up to 60°C.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Product number | 2048420 |
| Battery platform | 18V Power X-Change (battery sold separately) |
| Capacity | 27 litres |
| Cooling | Down to 20°C below ambient temperature |
| Heating | Up to 60°C, stepless adjustment |
| Power sources | 18V battery, 230V mains, 12V car socket |
| Weight | 5.77 kg |
| Extras | Integrated bottle opener, padded shoulder strap |
What Stands Out
Three independent power sources cover most real situations: pre-cool it at home on mains power, run it from the car's 12V socket on the drive, then switch to the 18V battery once you're off-grid at a campsite or job site — no ice packs to manage or replace. The heating function is a genuine second use case, useful for keeping food warm rather than just cold.
Where It Falls Short
At 5.77 kg empty, it is noticeably heavier than a passive cool box of similar size, and 27 litres is modest for a family camping trip — closer to a day-trip or two-person cooler. Battery-only runtime depends on the battery used and is shorter than mains or car power, so it's not meant for days of off-grid use on battery alone.
Who Should Buy It?
Tradespeople who want reliably cold drinks and food on job sites without a generator, and campers or road-trippers who value active cooling (and the heating option) over the simplicity of a passive cool box with ice. If you already own Power X-Change batteries, it slots into that ecosystem instead of needing a separate 12V-only cooler.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How cold can the Einhell TE-COL 18/27 get?
- It cools to approximately 20°C below the surrounding ambient temperature, with stepless adjustment, rather than a fixed target temperature.
- Can it run without a battery, using just the car or mains power?
- Yes. It has three independent power options — 18V battery, 230V mains, and 12V car socket — and automatically selects the appropriate mode for whichever source is connected.
- Does it only cool, or can it also keep food warm?
- Both. A central switch selects between the cooling function and a heat-keeping function that holds contents up to 60°C.
- How long does it run on battery power alone?
- Runtime depends on the Power X-Change battery used (capacity in Ah) and ambient conditions; Einhell does not position battery-only operation as an all-day, multi-day solution the way mains or car power is. It is best used with mains or 12V power for extended cooling, with battery power for shorter off-grid stretches.