Leave It to Beaver: Mercedes Opens More Fast Chargers at Texas Buc-ee’s Stores
Buc-ee’s, beacon of the most American of all driving traditions, is going electric – sort of. Some Texas locations of the kitschy, massive stores are getting Mercedes-Benz’s DC fast charging stations, and many more are expected by the end of 2024.
The automaker recently opened chargers at Buc-ee’s locations in Fort Worth, Royse City, and Temple, and said it would build 12 more at locations in the Dallas area (includes Fort Worth), Houston, and San Antonio. As Electrek noted, 68 percent of Texans live in those regions.
The store chain operates 48 locations, mainly in the South, with 34 of them in Texas alone. Other travel stops and gas station chains are working toward similar goals. Hertz and BP intend to build charging locations across the country, and the Pilot Company has teamed with General Motors and EVgo to build 2,000 350kW fast chargers at their travel centers.
Buc-ee’s massive store locations provide gas, food, and souvenirs, and have become so much a part of the American highway landscape that they’re tourist destinations on their own. That draw makes them ideal for EV charging stations, despite the fact that they celebrate largess and consumption (I love them, for the record). So, while you might feel a bit out of place charging an EV at a Buc-ee’s store, you can at least grab some Beaver Nuggets and a brisket sandwich while you wait.
[Images: Ray Shrewsbury via Shutterstock and Mercedes-Benz]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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Let’s get them in there. Especially in Deep South Texas (Rio Grande Valley)! $3-4/gallon for gas shouldn’t be the norm.
jeff; believe it or not. I had lunch with Mr Maddox once.