Abstract: A storage compartment unit in a vehicle includes a temperature control unit, a storage compartment coolable by the temperature control unit, and a storage compartment heatable by the temperature control unit. The temperature control unit is controlled to cool the coolable storage compartment and/or to heat the heatable storage compartment depending on sensor data from a sensor system of the vehicle, information from a central unit external to the vehicle, information from a personal communication unit of a vehicle user, and/or information from a communication of the vehicle user with a human-machine interface of the vehicle. The coolable storage compartment is cooled and/or the heatable storage compartment is heated when the presence of the vehicle user in the vehicle is recognized, an outside temperature in a predetermined temperature range is recognized, a predetermined activity of the vehicle user is recognized, and a predetermined operating state of the vehicle is recognized.