Evaptainers is a portable cooling system, which runs solely on water and sunlight- no electricity or toxic chemicals needed.
Keeping things cool is often considered kind of a given by many of us. Regardless of how many articles are written and appeals are filed in order to raise awareness of electricity consumption, pollution, and the effects on our environment that come after, many people still have large refrigerators that consume huge amounts of electricity, and often lead to increase in food waste, rather than better storage.
Of course, it is a lot easier to have all this in countries across Europe and the US. Here the grid is relatively stable, advanced technology is available in all stores, and people have the luxury to look for coolers that can make you a cocktail and play you music, while chilling your drink. But people living in developing countries have much bigger problems than having a warm beer next to the pool. For many, access to electricity is something that they cannot imagine, while making food last longer under the hot sun is more like a dream than a day-to-day option.
This is where technology such as Evaptainers can make a huge difference. Using only water and sunlight, the light and super efficient cooling system keeps temperatures low thanks to the well-known method of evaporative cooling. Unlike any similar coolers that use this technology, Evaptainers have state-of-the-art insulation and are made of very light materials, which means that they can be transported easily.
The inventor, Quang Troung, a graduate student at the MIT, is convinced that this technology can revolutionize the world and really make a difference for all those people, who struggle to meet their basic needs simply because they cannot preserve their food or produce for long enough.
Evaptainers is still at a prototype phase, and it is currently under testing in Morocco. The first prototypes have a volume of 60 liters, and require only 6 liters of water to keep the goods inside chilled for up to 12 hours. The cooling technology is very easy to operate, and it is highly resistant to damage. The estimated cost for one of these coolers should be between $10-$20.
Quang Troung is hoping to be able to commercialize the cooler by the end of the year. The campaign should begin after all test trials are complete, which is expected to happen some time after this summer (2015). Follow their site for more details.
Image (c) Evaptainers
So after reading this we find out it is NOT a product. It’s a prototype. It chills food, but we have no idea how cold that is. Thanks for a waste of time.