Have you ever walked by a food truck and only smell the diesel fuel powering the generator, rather than the food itself?
Not only is the smell unappealing, the emissions from the diesel generator are not healthy.
What if there was a different option?
A start-up in New York City is working to help food carts switch from a noisy, smelly fossil-fuel powered generator to one that is quiet and emissions free powered by batteries.
While it is currently free to participate in the program thanks to grant funding, the provider PopWheels expects this to be available on a subscription basis.
There are some challenges that need to be worked through including distance from the battery charging stations, upfront costs and how to meet the needs of high-intensity energy trucks (think ice cream) but the goal of this pilot is to learn as much as possible to ensure a successful rollout.
Other cities in the United States are exploring this idea. Have you seen it in your community?