THE Green Mo just got a lot greener and a lot smaller.

The distinctive smoothie-juice-coffee-breakfast van that pops up around Fremantle and festivals now has a compact partner, Mini Mo — a 980cc Suzuki van whose crammed insides are powered by gas or solar panels.

The 2m x 1.4m “kiosk” is the product of Green Mo owner Dirk Schoendube’s desire to minimise his carbon foootprint which he achieves by using a 4-litre gas bottle to power the coffee machine and roof-top solar panels to keep the grinder, juicer and blender humming.

“I’m really happy with this,” Dirk explains after spending three months building Mini Mo in his driveway.

“It is very efficient—five days of making coffee on four litres (of gas) and I still have some left.

“It can do 360 shots an hour if I’m quick enough. It’s really powerful and amazing. The solar panels charge batteries which power the grinder, juicer and fridges.”

• Dirk Schoendube with his new super-compact breakfast van. Photo by Eddie Albrecht

All of which further Dirk’s desire to be both environmentally sensitive and ethically productive.

“The coffee is fair trade and roasted in Bibra Lake,” he states proudly.

“I don’t use sugar or dairy in my smoothies, I make my own granola with sprouted seeds and nuts—in short I want this to be special, with excellent coffee and service.”

Dirk says he searched high and low for a plumber who could set up the coffee machine, having been made aware of the possibility by similar set-ups in the eastern states.

“I rang 10 gas plumbers and they all said they can’t do this — I got very frustrated because in Sydney they already do this but it has never happened here. I don’t know if this is the first of its kind in WA but I’m pretty sure most are powered by generator.”

Mini Mo is stationed at South Fremantle’s dog beach from Friday to Sunday.

by EDDIE ALBRECHT