Maybe it’s nostalgia for childhood ice cream trucks, but there’s something about summer and food trucks that makes us want to grab a friend and order up tasty eats you can hold in one hand. Even better: You can add to that feel-good moment this summer by eating at a food truck that has electrified their operations.
The Regional Air Quality Council’s popular Engines Off Mobile Grants program has partnered with more than 90 Front Range food trucks to support their electrification efforts. By trading in diesel generators for electric, these food trucks have reduced emissions that contribute to summer ozone formation, plus they’ve created healthier environments for their employees and customers alike. It’s a win-win for these small businesses and the communities where they dish out their wares!
When diners become patrons of food trucks that have elected to ditch gas generators and go electric, they get amazing food and a few added bonuses, too:
Electric generators are quiet: While you stand in line or hang out nearby to catch up with a friend, you’ll be able to hear each other. No shouting required!
Electric generators have no exhaust fumes: No need to escape the diesel fumes or worry what you’re breathing in as you eat. Just enjoy the food!
Though these creative small businesses are all over the Front Range year-round, summers are (thankfully!) packed with special food truck events where everyone can find something to nosh, from the Fort Collins Food Truck Rally to Denver’s Civic Center Eats.
How can you find an electrified food truck on your own? Just listen for … nothing but the sound of cooking and people ordering. These trucks’ batteries quietly run throughout service and beyond, and with no stink, they’re becoming popular at event spaces and breweries — which are increasingly offering plug-in options, as patrons prefer a quieter, exhaust-free experience.
Hungry or thirsty for more? Keep an eye out for these food trucks our Engines Off partnered with for electrification this summer:
Tuk Took Bites Food
Tuk Took Bites’ motto is simple and relatable: “No sad desk lunches.” You might not have time to make a flavorful long-simmering South Asian curry for lunch. But you can run out to Tuk Took’s truck for authentic saag paneer and be the office hero when you return with samosas for everyone.
But you might not be in a hurry to dash back to the office after you order at Tuk Took Bites.
“From my perspective, Engine Off has drastically improved the food truck experience,” said Tuk Took owner Sid Patel. “Our customers no longer have to suffer from both noise and air pollution.”
Ba-nom-a-nom
Cue the Muppets “Mahna Mahna” tune and you’ll get the vibe of this food truck and its healthy, creamy (but dairy free), fruit-based treats. Ba-nom-a-nom serves “soft serve frozen fruit” that’s whipped into a delicious fluff by their specialty blenders. The flavors rotate, but they’re always vegan, gluten free, and free of added sugars… but feel free to add sprinkles, granola, chocolate chips, or any of the other vegan toppings Ba-nom-a-nom offers.
Lil’ Red Coffee
Need a pick me up? Lil’ Red Coffee offers specialty coffee (caffeine: check) out of an adorable little electric truck that used to be a Japanese fire truck (spirits lifted: check). This summer, Lil’ Red Coffee is offering a variety of iced latte flavors, such as Madagascar vanilla and Speculoos, which is spiced like its namesake cookie from Belgium. The truck also has its Guatemalan Huehuetenango cold brew on a nitro tap this summer.
More information
Are you a food truck owner interested in electrification? Check out our Engines Off Mobile Grants program and explore local resources like Boulder County’s Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE) Food Truck Equipment program, which also offers assistance with electrification.
Jenn Fields
Communications Contributor
Regional Air Quality Council
