Plugged in blog
The Future of Food Trucks: Going all-electric and off-grid with Joule Case
Your favorite food truck is most likely powered by gasoline or diesel - even when it’s parked. You know this because you can hear it (and smell it). While attention-grabbing as it may be, it’s not the first thing you want forefront of your mind when it comes to a food or coffee truck. Exhaust smell isn’t appetizing and the rattling of a loud generator is something we all have tolerated, but none of us enjoy.
Welcome to the future. Clean, quiet energy.
From food trucks to mobile mechanics, coffee vans to dog groomers . . . the list is as comprehensive as your downtown businesses. Relying on generators is dirty, loud, unreliable, and toxic - to both the environment and atmosphere for food truck operators and potential customers.
So how does one avoid the smell of diesel fuel and the rattling sound of a dirty engine? By switching to a battery-powered electric generator like Joule Case. Mobile and stackable, Joule Case food truck battery systems are replacing carbon-spewing gas and diesel generators and revolutionizing the way mobile businesses run.
Eric Murphy, CEO and Founder of Scream Truck, a popular mobile ice cream service, was desperate for a replacement to gas generators "I would say I spoke to probably 10 different companies, some of them multiple times trying to come up with a solution for a battery-powered kitchen. Our ice cream machine is 60 amps and pulls a lot of power when it first comes on. That amount of power, in addition to the length of time we need to be out on the road - we can't come back and recharge, we need to have power that lasts all day along - that combination was really hard to find” - Eric Murphy
Joule Case stepped in with a game-changing solution. We replaced Scream Truck's diesel generator with our advanced battery system. This innovative power solution eliminated the carbon emissions and noise pollution associated with traditional generators, aligning with Scream Truck's commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for their customers.
Our battery system provided a robust and reliable power source, allowing Scream Truck to operate all day without interruptions. The need for refueling and generator maintenance was eliminated, saving them both time and money.
"In our initial truck we did 16 batteries and 4 inverters, it is about double the cost of the generator, but we'll recoup that in a year and after that it is so economical to run versus a gas powered generator. Over time it will save us millions of dollars."
Due to the success and efficiency of the Joule Case system, Scream Truck has decided to outfit all of their future trucks with our sustainable power solutions. This commitment further emphasizes their dedication to innovation, sustainability, and superior customer service.
Slow River Coffee also installed a similar system in their coffee truck. With a full battery system, the setup and take downtime is significantly reduced. Slow River Coffee owner Sid Gauby took the leap to renewable energy, which he had been considering for some time.
“I’ve just been burning fuel, you know. The price and the capabilities, the battery storage haven’t been there (to convert our generator). With (Joule Case) we could get to that point where it made economic sense as well… Being able to run silently really opens up a lot of doors.”
Joule Case’s stackable battery system was the perfect solution to a more renewable energy system and he plans to continue to make his coffee truck more green with solar panels in the future. His current setup runs his appliances for 6 - 8 hours without recharging, which is enough for about 400 drinks. As head of the Southern Idaho Food Truck Association, Sid thinks that losing the generators could create more opportunities for food trucks and hopes Slow River Coffee serves as an example for other local food truck owners in the area.
For a typical food truck, operating a generator 4 days per week, running a fryer, a fridge, a stove hood and crockpot on an average shift costs about $1,400 per summer season. Those who run year-round, spend more.
Specialized food truck manufacturers like Karpatia are beginning to take notice as well. Partnering with Joule Case helps them provide the most sustainable build possible for their customers.
Most food trucks can pay for the Joule Case battery system upgrade just with fuel cost savings within a couple of years. And, the emissions reduction in replacing a gas generator with a Joule Case battery is around 40,000 lbs of CO2 - equivalent to taking six vehicles off the road a year.
But it’s not just about cost savings or carbon emissions. It is also about being compact. The reasons for switching to all-electric continue to grow as the mobile food industry booms all over the United States as restaurant owners opt to go mobile instead of brick and mortar. And because batteries don’t require ventilation or ancillary cooling or thermal monitoring equipment, Joule Case batteries can be installed in extremely tight spaces, making them perfect for a portable, efficient, and innovative way to transport a whole lot of energy, keeping your favorite food truck powered through any event.
