A driver of the Chevrolet Silverado EV recently had a fortunate experience while charging at a Buc-ee’s in Smiths Grove, Kentucky. In a TikTok video that garnered significant attention, user Terry Hensley (@tshensley) shared his unexpected encounter with the electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities available at the popular convenience store. Hensley mentioned that he was provided with an adapter that enabled him to utilize Tesla’s NACS plug for his Chevy truck, which was a pleasant surprise for him. Additionally, many commenters pointed out that there were alternative EV charging options at the same location, which could have been helpful even if an adapter hadn’t been available.
In his video, Hensley describes how he stopped at Buc-ee’s specifically to recharge his vehicle, noting, "I’m surrounded by Teslas," as he filmed the impressive line of Tesla cars parked nearby. Behind these vehicles, there were numerous Tesla charging kiosks. He initially thought that anyone driving an EV without a NACS port would be out of luck. However, Buc-ee’s came through for him. "It’s kind of funny because Buc-ee’s only had Tesla chargers. But luckily, they had a magic dock. So I was able to pull the cable and it plugged right into the truck," he explained with relief.
Despite his ability to charge his vehicle successfully, Hensley did express some concerns regarding the charging speed. He noted, "It started out at around 175 kilowatts but has now dropped to about 140. That was a little disappointing, considering it’s supposed to be a 325 kilowatt system, but I figured it might charge slowly given the number of units available."
As he wrapped up his video, Hensley mentioned that this stop in Kentucky was just one part of his journey. His next destination for charging was another Buc-ee’s located in Alabama, where he hoped to find enough power to reach. Upon arrival, he planned to search for a Mercedes-Benz charging station, as the automaker has been actively placing charging docks at various Starbucks across the country.
Engaging with his audience, Hensley shared more insights in the comments section of his post. He expressed his fondness for Buc-ee’s, revealing that he often spends considerable time there, which meant that his charging stop didn’t extend his travel time significantly. "I usually charge at home, but since this trip is to Alabama, I needed a boost along the way. By the way, I typically spend about 45 minutes at Buc-ee’s, so it was a win-win situation," he commented.
Another viewer chimed in, confirming that the Buc-ee’s in Kentucky also features Mercedes-Benz EV chargers. According to local news reports, by the end of 2024, the chain plans to equip at least 31 of its locations across 12 states, including Kentucky, with these chargers. This information was further corroborated by Business Wire, highlighting the collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and Buc-ee’s to enhance EV charging accessibility nationwide.
The conversation sparked by Hensley’s video reflected broader sentiments across social media platforms. One commenter expressed mixed feelings about non-Tesla EVs using Tesla chargers, stating, "As a long-time Tesla owner (my first was a 2015 Model S), I’m torn. It’s great to see more EVs on the road, but I’m not thrilled about Tesla making their chargers available to GM and Ford. Gross."
Regarding the slower-than-expected charging speeds, another individual provided insight: "The power is divided between two stalls. If another car is next to you, you’re essentially sharing the full power capacity."
This points to a common scenario noted by electric charging equipment provider EVBox, which explains on their website that multiple vehicles connected to the same charging station can affect charging times. Their blog post titled "6 reasons why your electric car isn’t charging as fast as you’d expect" outlines this exact situation.
In fact, a similar sentiment was echoed by EVB.com, emphasizing that drivers should be aware that they won’t achieve the advertised fast charging speeds if several vehicles are drawing power from the same source.
In a positive light, the Silverado EV was recently recognized by InsideEVs in 2024 for its exceptional battery charging performance. With the vehicle’s battery preconditioning, it reached its advertised charging speed of 350kw. Notably, the Silverado maintained impressive performance, staying above 340kw until its battery capacity dropped to 30%. After reaching the 75% mark, it continued charging at 220kW and even sustained a charge rate of 50w beyond 90%.
InsideEVs has reached out to Hensley through TikTok direct messaging for additional comments on his experience. Now, we want to hear from you! What features or improvements would you like to see discussed on InsideEVs.com? Share your thoughts with us in our brief three-minute survey!
