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LPG or Electric Burger Van Equipment: Which Costs More to Buy?

by CLAIRE DAVIES
(UK)

Inside a British burger van fit-out with stainless steel gas cooking equipment

Inside a British burger van fit-out with stainless steel gas cooking equipment

Hi I have just bought a new burger van and am about to buy my equipment.

I have read alot about using LPG instead of electric as its cheaper to run, my only problem is the LPG equipment seems to be alot more expensive to purchase in the first place, grills, fridges etc. Is this correct or am I looking in the wrong places?

I need to buy all of the equipment to start so have the luxury of choosing but of course also the cost!

I also saw in a post that to hook up to a site 32 amp electric I would need a converter in my fuse box - can someone point me in the direction of one of these? Do most event sites provide this ?

Thanks
Claire

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Jul 27, 2026
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by: MobCater

Hi Claire, you're not looking in the wrong places. Commercial LPG catering equipment usually does cost more to buy than the electric equivalent, because trade grade propane griddles, fryers and chargrills are built heavier and certified for commercial use, and that shows in the price.

The thing I'd weigh up is the cost across your first year, not just the price on the shelf. Propane is a lot cheaper to run once you get busy, and it works when you have no mains hookup, which is the case for most burger vans. Electric heavy cooking gear pulls big wattage, so going all electric usually means buying a much bigger generator, and the cost of that plus the fuel to run it often wipes out the saving you made on the appliances.

What tends to work best is a split setup. Put the hard working heat on propane, so your griddle, fryer and chargrill, and keep the lighter loads on electric, so your fridge, freezer, lights, water pump, card reader and phone. Fridges and freezers sip power compared to a griddle, so they run happily off a leisure battery or a modest generator. That keeps the generator small and the running costs sensible.

One more tip: for anything that gets used hard every day, buy commercial rather than domestic, even second hand from a proper dealer, as it will last far longer. Just make sure any gas appliance is fitted and checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and that you have a current gas safety certificate, because your EHO and most pitch owners will ask to see one.

When you're ready to price it all up, the app's running cost and pricing tools will help you see the real monthly difference between gas and electric. And for the equipment itself, mobcater.com has reviews and prices so you can compare like for like.

All the best

David

Disclaimer: Gas installation and maintenance must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Never attempt gas work yourself. Check gassaferegister.co.uk for qualified engineers in your area.

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