Hacker News Reader

propane will eventually run out. this is potentially "set it up once and never fuss with it".

It doesn't seem like portability was a major concern. Hopefully if this catches on, other improvements in size, weight and purposes will come about. This one seems to be for a very specific purpose.

View on HN

As others have mentioned in the thread, RV refrigerators can run on a combination of electricity or propane. While this has a longer non-powered endurance period, I would think that a multi-fuel refridgerator would be more appropriate for remote vaccination campaigns. Mount refrigerator on vehicle, use electricity ("shore power") when at depo/distribution center, burn propane while in transit, and then either continue to use propane on-site or switch to solar-powered electricity (or village electricity, if available).

How is this "set it up and never fuss" if the ice has to be replaced every 35 days? I would think delivering a small propane tank would be much easier than delivering ice.

The ice will replenish itself if an electric source and can be found later. (for example, the ones with solar panels, or once it reaches a remote field hospital with a generator)

I think you are imagining it being used differently than what they have in mind

Ice replenishing by using electricity is a completely different topic than delivering ice.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com