CarsSmart
In-Car Fridges Used by Just 5%: The NEV Feature Race Questioned
Limited use of integrated fridges reignites the debate over the race to add features to electrified vehicles.
9 October 2026 1 min read 3 views
Only 5% of users make use of an in-car fridge. The figure has refocused attention on the growing competition among NEV manufacturers, a term covering new-energy vehicles, especially electric and plug-in models.
The trend is encouraging brands to add ever more functions to stand out, but rarely used equipment can increase cost, weight and complexity. For the Italian market, where efficiency and practicality remain particularly important, the case raises a question: are more features better than equipment that is genuinely useful?