A Chevrolet Silverado EV driver had a fortunate encounter when he stopped to charge his vehicle at a Buc-ee’s in Smiths Grove, Kentucky. In a viral TikTok video shared by user Terry Hensley (@tshensley), he recounted his experience with the electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities available at the location. To his surprise, the store provided him with an adapter that enabled him to connect his Chevy truck to Tesla's NACS plug. Moreover, commenters pointed out that there were alternative EV chargers available at the same site, which could have been utilized even without the adapter.
"I stopped at a Buc-ee’s to recharge and found myself surrounded by Teslas," Hensley said in his video, showcasing the impressive line of vehicles from the well-known EV brand. Behind these cars, rows of dedicated Tesla charging stations stood ready for use, which typically would mean that drivers of non-Tesla EVs would need a compatible adapter to charge their vehicles. However, Hensley soon discovered that Buc-ee’s had a solution for him. "It’s kind of amusing because Buc-ee’s only had Tesla chargers. But luckily, they had a magic dock, allowing me to pull out the cable that plugged right into my truck," he explained.
While Hensley managed to charge his vehicle without any major issues, he did note that the experience wasn't entirely flawless. He expressed some disappointment regarding the charging speeds. "At first, it started charging at around 175 kilowatts, but then it slowed down to about 140. That's a bit disappointing since the system is supposed to deliver 325 kilowatts, yet it charges quite slowly. I suppose that was expected given the number of units here," he mentioned, shedding light on the nuances of charging performance.
Near the end of his video, Hensley revealed that this stop in Kentucky was just one part of his journey. His next charging stop was planned for another Buc-ee’s located in Alabama, where he hoped to have enough battery power to reach. At that location, he anticipated finding a Mercedes-Benz charging station, as the German automaker has been actively installing charging docks at various Starbucks across the United States.
In the comments section of his post, Hensley elaborated on his trip, highlighting his fondness for Buc-ee’s and noting that his stop didn’t significantly increase his travel time. "I usually charge at home, but since this is a trip to Alabama, I needed a little boost along the way. By the way, I typically spend about 45 minutes at Buc-ee’s, so it turned out to be a win-win situation," he wrote.
Another commenter confirmed that the Buc-ee’s in Kentucky indeed offers Mercedes-Benz EV chargers, too. According to local news outlet WFAA, by the end of 2024, the chain plans to equip at least 31 of its locations across 12 states, including Kentucky, with Mercedes-Benz EV charging stations. This information was further corroborated by Business Wire, which reported on this strategic agreement between Buc-ee’s and Mercedes-Benz.
As the discourse unfolded in response to Hensley’s video, opinions varied widely among viewers. One individual remarked on their discomfort with non-Tesla EVs using Tesla chargers, stating, "As a long-time Tesla owner (my first was a 2015 Model S), I’m not sure how to feel about this. I'm happy to see more EVs on the road, but I’m also uneasy about Tesla opening their chargers to GM and Ford. It feels wrong."
Others chimed in to explain why Hensley’s charging experience might have been slower than expected. One user noted, "The power is split across two stalls. So if a car is parked next to you, you’ll receive half of the total rated power." This observation aligns with insights from EVBox, which highlights similar scenarios in their blog post explaining reasons behind slower charging times. They specifically mention that multiple EVs connected to the same charging station can indeed prolong the charging process.
The Silverado EV itself has received accolades for its charging capabilities. In 2024, InsideEVs recognized the Silverado EV for its impressive battery top-off performance, noting that with proper battery preconditioning, the vehicle achieved its advertised 350 kW charging speed. Furthermore, it maintained a high charging rate of over 340 kW until the battery reached 30% capacity, with sustained performance that continued even after reaching 90% battery charge.
InsideEVs has attempted to reach out to Hensley via TikTok for additional insights on his experience.
What do you think about the growing trend of EV charging stations accommodating multiple brands? Do you see this as a positive development for the EV community, or does it raise concerns for you? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
