Solar Powered Food Trucks use energy from the sun to power refrigerators, stoves and more
Here in my hometown of Bend, Oregon, we love to stroll downtown mid-day to see what food trucks are out on the street corners for a quick, convenient meal. Although they have become a hot new trend in “fast food,” street food trucks actually preceded drive-ins for many decades. Today’s offerings are decidedly more sustainable, organic and local, however.
Sustainable even more so now that there are solar powered food trucks.
When these mobile restaurants are outfitted with solar panel kits like the ones you might see on RVs or boats, the relatively small amounts of electricity required to prepare food and light the interior of a truck can be entirely generated by solar power. There are also solar powered ice cream trucks that use energy from the sun to keep refrigerators running and the frozen treats cold and delicious.
Watch this amazing video about the Soup Truck, which runs on solar power:
If you are looking for solar powered food trucks in your city or region, consider the following businesses, all of which serve sustainable, low impact fast food and run on the energy of the sun!
1. Arlington, VA – Solar Crepes
Ingredients include local and organic food from sustainable sources. Food is packaged in eco-friendly wrappers, and the food truck uses a 90-watt solar panel that produces an average 590 watt hours of power per day.
2. Portland, OR – Off the Griddle
If the clever name of this food truck isn’t enough to make you curious, come for the delicious taste of the vegan and vegetarian burgers and other offerings, created with natural, organic ingredients. The portable burger joint runs on 100% renewable energy with the rooftop solar panels producing more than enough power to keep operations running. Excess electricity is sold back into the grid.
3. The Green Truck – locations in Los Angeles, San Diego and New York City
Like Off the Griddle, you can enjoy sustainable, vegan and vegetarian dishes from The Green Truck. The solar powered food truck generates ample power for food prep, cooking and refrigeration and also sells back excess solar electricity into the grid. Leftover, recycled cooking oil is also used for fuel.
4. Sungevity Ice Pop Truck (Nationwide)
Unlike the traveling restaurants, serving meals out their solar powered food truck, the Ice Pop Truck (shown above) is the brain child of Sungevity, a solar power company. You may see one of these cheerful trucks in your neighborhood soon, as they are traveling across the country this year to help educate consumers on the benefits and affordability of solar power. Enjoy a free organic ice pop while you learn about how clean, green and inexpensive solar power can be.
Find out where the Sungevity Ice Pop Truck will be by visiting their website.
Tags: food trucks, low-impact fast food, solar powered food trucks, solar powered vehicles, sungevity ice pop truck, sustainable fast food
