Engines Off for Food Trucks
Diesel, gas and propane generators power food trucks and other mobile businesses across Colorado. Unfortunately, these generators are expensive to fuel and maintain, release harmful pollutants around employees and customers, are very noisy and contribute to climate change. Recognizing that clean, energy efficient, long-lasting battery replacements require a capital investment before business owners can capture their cost-savings, we’re offering grants of up to $5,000 for food trucks and other mobile businesses that operate in seven Front Range counties to:
1. Purchase one or more batteries to power their business.
2. Recycle/dispose of their old diesel, gas, and propane generators.
Applications are currently closed.
Why should i
Switch to Batteries?
Cost Savings
Generators require consistent maintenance, resulting in expensive repairs and lost income – batteries nearly eliminate those costs. In addition, the price of gas, diesel, and propane fuels are more expensive and variable than electricity. Overall, the savings on fuel and maintenance can pay back the cost of the batteries and installation in as soon as one year.
Customer Experience
Traditional food truck generators create 55 dB – 90 dB of noise while operating, even though prolonged exposure to noises greater than 70dB can cause hearing problems. Also, food truck generator emissions create polluted, sometimes smelly, eating environments. Batteries can improve customer experience by eliminating noise and pollution.
Climate change
A single ice cream truck with a diesel generator emits the equivalent of burning 83 pounds of coal a day. Replacing the generators of 2,000 food trucks over five years would prevent half a million tons of CO2 emissions.
Public Health
Generators can cause health problems for food truck employees, who are acutely and regularly exposed, as well as to the general public. Fossil fuel powered generators emit toxic air pollutants including carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxide. These pollutants can aggravate asthma and allergies and can cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Furthermore, generators release compounds that react with sunlight to form ground-level ozone pollution, contributing to respiratory illness and dangerous air quality days.
Success Stories and Testimonials
Battery technology has come a long way in the past few years. Hear from food truck owners who have made the transition to battery powered businesses.