At Artek, we take pride in building advanced off-grid energy systems that go far beyond the basics—solutions that are quiet, reliable, and built to handle demanding real-world use. In 2023, we completed a full mobile power system for Joca Coffee, a specialty coffee company that serves premium beverages from a fully mobile café built into a Mercedes Sprinter van.
Joca needed a system capable of supporting a high load profile—including professional-grade espresso machines, ice makers, grinders, refrigeration, and lighting—all while maintaining quiet, generator-free operation during events, festivals, and remote catering. Generator noise, fuel dependency, and manual intervention were out of the question. By leveraging Victron Energy’s hybrid generator capabilities, we enabled the Sprinter’s alternator to act as an on-demand charging source, triggered automatically by the system’s state of charge. This intelligent integration not only reduced fuel consumption and idle time, but also eliminated the need for a standalone generator—delivering silent operation, lower emissions, and fully autonomous performance in any environment.
The Artek Solution: Power Without Compromise
To meet these unique demands, Artek engineered a Victron Energy-based system that delivers both performance and simplicity:
-
Smart Lithium Battery Bank: We equipped the van with Victron’s Smart LiFePO₄ batteries, selected for their high energy density, fast charge/discharge capabilities, and long cycle life. The bank is sized to comfortably power all onboard systems for extended periods without requiring manual intervention.
-
Dual Quattro Inverter/Chargers: To supply true 120/240V split-phase power, we used a pair of Victron Quattro 48/5000 units. This robust inverter setup ensures that all high-demand appliances—like espresso machines and ice machines—run smoothly and efficiently with zero instability.
-
Cerbo GX Monitoring & Control: At the heart of the system is the Victron Cerbo GX, which provides real-time monitoring, system logging, and full remote visibility. It serves as the intelligence layer for the entire power platform, enabling advanced automation features and seamless diagnostics.
Automatic Engine Integration: No Generator Required
One of the most innovative aspects of this build is the automated chassis integration we implemented between the Victron system and the Mercedes Sprinter. By using the state of charge (SOC) data from the Cerbo GX, the vehicle’s engine can be automatically started or stopped based on power demand and battery levels—functioning much like a hybrid vehicle, albeit stationary.
When battery levels drop below a defined threshold, the Sprinter starts. This recharges the batteries, while supporting the existing loads, using the vehicle’s alternator and then shuts off once charging is complete. This approach eliminates the need for a standalone generator, reduces idle time, and allows the entire system to operate silently and autonomously for extended periods of use.
The Result: Mobile Power, Elevated
With Artek’s integrated power system, Joca Coffee can now:
-
Operate for long hours at remote events with reduction of generator noise
-
Maintain full uptime across all essential appliances
-
Monitor system health and performance via a clean, user-friendly interface
-
Start and stop the engine automatically—no manual monitoring or switch-flipping required