Choosing between a generator and an inverter for your mobile cafe use depends on your specific needs, as both have advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:
Generator
Pros:
– Power Output: Generators typically produce more power, making them suitable for running heavy appliances like chip fryers, air conditioners, and large power tools.
– Fuel Options: Many generators run on gasoline, propane, or diesel, providing flexibility if you are in the middle of the desert or ocean and have a very large fuel tank.
– Continuous Operation: They can run for long periods (depending on fuel supply) and are often more used as a temporary power solution for houses during blackouts etc.
– Brilliant if you are a Russian Oligarch with a multi million dollar yacht.
Cons:
– Noise: Generators can be quite loud, which may be disruptive, especially in residential areas. They do not
– Emissions: They produce exhaust fumes, requiring proper ventilation and safe placement away from living areas.
– Maintenance: Regular maintenance is needed to ensure reliability, including oil changes and fuel stabilization.
Inverter
Pros:
– Quiet Operation: Inverters are virtually silent compared to traditional generators, making them more suitable for a mobile cafe with customers hovering around. Eg. They do not detract from the ambience that an operator is trying to create for their mobile cafe popup event.
– Clean Power: They produce stable and clean electricity, which is ideal for sensitive electronics such as coffee machines, grinders, blenders and refrigerators.
– Portability: Inverters are often lighter and more compact, making them easier to transport.
– Fuel Efficiency: They adjust power output based on demand, leading to better fuel efficiency. An inverter coupled to 2 x 200 amp lithium ion batteries will easily power a coffee van with all it’s required equipment for a period of 12 hours before a recharge is required.
– Maintenance: There is none! Easy. A $ saved is a $ earned.
Cons:
– Power Limitations: Inverters typically have lower power output compared to generators, which may not be sufficient for larger food preparation appliances often found in large food trucks however they are sufficient for 99% of coffee vans.
– Cost: High quality lithium-ion batteries can run into the thousands however the technology has improved greatly. They do not need replacing nearly as often and are harder to ‘break’. The system is generally still much less to install than a top of the range generator system.
– Weight: The batteries can be upwards of 60kg each. This ultimately is deducted from the TARE weight of your van so definitely make sure you select a van with a competitive TARE weight .
Conclusion
Embrace technology! It’s the future. In fact, inverters & batteries have been around for a very long time however the advancements in battery technology have leapt forward improving charge & durability. The system is preferred for mobile cafe’s that do not have large food warming appliances. ie. ovens and warmers.
If you have solar panels or a battery for your house, then the running costs of having your mobile cafe using batteries & inverter are near negligible.
If you are sensitive to noise and fumes, then an inverter with batteries is preferable.