Is All Electric a Good Choice?

by Melody Simms
(Warminster, Wiltshire )

Is an All-Electric Catering Trailer a Good Idea

Is an All-Electric Catering Trailer a Good Idea

Hi David,
My husband and I are going to view a second hand catering trailer today, my concern is, it's all electric. My husband isn't to sure as he thinks this will end up being expensive. We would need to buy a generator and I'm unsure what type to get or how to work out the total amount of electricity that will be used. Included in the sale is:
Griddle
Under counter fridge and freezer
30 lt tea urn
Microwave
Small table top can fridge
Double fryer
Panni machine
Strip lights
Please help as I don't want to make an expensive mistake.

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Dec 11, 2025
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by: MobCater

Hello,

Short answer:

It can work, but it can also get very expensive if you need a generator to power everything.

Why all-electric can be a problem

Electric cooking equipment uses a lot of power.

Big generators are needed to run it all.

Big generators cost a lot in fuel every day.

Many UK food trailers use gas for cooking and electric for small items because it’s cheaper.

Why your husband is worried (and he’s right to check)

All these items use high electricity:

Griddle

Fridge + freezer

30L tea urn

Microwave

Can fridge

Double fryer

Panini machine

Strip lights

If you run many of them at the same time, you may need a large, noisy, heavy generator that is expensive to run.

How to check the power

Look for the Watt (W) number on each item.

Write the numbers down.

Add them up.

Your generator must be bigger than the total watts.

Example:

If the equipment adds up to 8,000W (8kW), you would need a 9–10kW generator.
These are costly and use a lot of fuel.

Before you buy the trailer

Ask the seller for photos of the Watt labels on each machine.

Add the watts together.

Show the list to an electrician or a generator supplier.

Ask:

"What size generator do I need, and how much fuel will it use each day?"

If the power required is very high, then the trailer may be too expensive to run.

Simple bottom line

An all-electric trailer is like running lots of powerful machines at the same time.

It works, but it can cost a lot of money in fuel.

Many mobile caterers prefer gas for cooking to keep running costs lower. Don't rush in just make sure you are making the right decision, best of luck.

PS. Get the free guide on Starting a Mobile Catering Business Guide


Disclaimer:
This information is a general guide for UK mobile catering businesses. Always check power ratings, generator requirements, and safety needs with a qualified electrician or Gas Safe engineer before buying or using catering equipment.

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