What You Need To Know While You Use A Solar Generator To Power Your Food Trucks?
by Shi Yumin on Oct 24, 2022
Mobile businesses are booming. From food trucks to mobile mechanics, coffee vans to dog groomers . . . the list is as comprehensive as your downtown businesses. Relying on diesel 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 Crafuel. Mobile and stable, Crafuel Alto solar generators are replacing carbon-spewing gas and diesel generators and enriching the way mobile businesses run.
Food trucks are becoming really profitable in modern America, and the industry is growing massively. Many people are reaping the benefits of making their restaurants mobile, but one thing every food truck needs is adequate power supply.
If you’re someone who’s interested in getting a food truck, it’s important to have a plan for how you’ll get electricity to power the appliances you’ll need. Keep reading to get an in-depth look at the options you can choose from for powering your food truck.
Sources of Power Supply for Food Trucks
For anyone who is thinking of running a food truck business, or for those who already have a food truck business, power is an important consideration. Food trucks can get power supply from various electrical sources in their zones or even choose to install solar panels, but the most common way food trucks generate adequate power is through the use of a generator.
Commercial food truck generators are designed to perfectly meet the needs of mobile restaurants. When sized properly, these generators can power your refrigerator, freezer, fryer, oven, drink fountains, and lights with the push of a button.
By far, the best type of generator for a food truck is an Inverter Generator. The Inverter is a lightweight microprocessor that replaces the old school heavy alternator in conventional-style generators. Inverter generators produce clean, pure power that is ideal for food vans. You get clean quality power with the peace of mind that there won’t be any spikes or surges.
Calculate The Amount of Energy Your Food Truck Needs
However, the first and most important step when determining your power source or the size of your generator is to first know how many watts your food truck will require, then you can size your generator accordingly. If you’re planning to install a generator in your food truck that will pull fuel from the on-board fuel tank, you can use a standard gas-fuelled generator.
But if you’re installing a generator that will have its own dedicated fuel tank (such as a trailer or diesel vehicles utilizing a gasoline generator), you must install an EVAP generator to meet new standards. According to new emissions standards, if an EVAP generator is required, and an audit reveals a standard generator is installed, the fines can begin more than $30,000.
Note that the new emissions (EVAP) standards apply not just to generators, but to all fuel system components, including the fuel tank, fuel lines, clamps, vapour canister, and so on. Even if you have an old trailer that requires a new generator with a dedicated fuel tank, it must be converted (along with all of its components) to meet the EVAP standards.
You also have to ensure that the generator you choose is the appropriate size for installation. Whether you’re installing the generator in the external storage compartment of your food truck, or you’re modifying your food truck to provide additional space for a larger generator, make sure it’ll fit before you place the order.
Also remember to make sure that the voltage meets your food truck’s voltage requirements. The voltages you will typically see are 110V or 240V. Coupled with being careful to provide ample air flow to and from the generator, it is also necessary to install a proper exhaust system for the generator. Ventilation and exhaust are important for two major reasons. The first reason is safety.
Why Inverter Generators Are The Best Power Source For Food Trucks
Just like we already stated, the best type of power supply for a food truck is through an Inverter Generator. Instead of the heavy alternator found in conventional generators, inverter generators incorporate a lightweight microprocessor that provides a stable sine wave energy that is ideal for food vans. Built in a wide range of sizes to suit different uses, inverter generators are packed with features that make them a great choice for food trucks:
- Clean Quality Power
Inverter generators provide peace of mind that there won’t be any spikes or surges, so you can power more sensitive equipment that you wouldn’t normally trust to a generator, such as laptops and tablets.
- Very Portable And Lighted Weighted
These generators are not only easier to move into and out of the truck, they also don’t take up much space when you’re on the road. It simply means that you have more room for all the food and supplies that bring the money in.
- Economical With Fuel
This particular factor makes it a must-have for food trucks, especially when you want a longer running time without the need for emergency refuelling stops. In an inverter generator, the engine speed automatically adjusts in direct proportion to the load applied. This means the generator maximizes the fuel efficiency while maintaining 240V (50 cycles) supply. More power for less money means bigger profits.
- Less Noise
Whether you’re plying the streets or parked in the city, your food truck business needs a generator that doesn’t inconvenience you and your customers. Inverter generators are quieter than conventional generators and many are fitted with sound-proofed casing, insulators and mufflers.
Conclusion
Portable generators provide the power behind many of the food truck businesses you see around. The right electric generator means that as long as the customers are queuing, the food trucks can keep cooking. Crafuel believes that there’s no reason for food truck operators to ignore the benefits of solar power, which include reduced carbon emissions, and lower running costs.
We hope you have clarified everything to you in our article.