Bucee’s to Install Charging Stations!

[Longhorngirl]

Thanks to @Gshenderson for bringing up this Texas government contract. See link below. Click on projects awarded and you will find that Retail EV Charging North/Central/South LLC won a lot of the stations. I looked up the addresses for this group and they are Bucee’s locations. For those who don’t live in Texas and don’t know what Bucees is, it is a Texas sized gas station/convenience store with really clean bathrooms.

https://www.tceq.texas.gov/downloads/air-quality/terp/txvemp/txvemp-dcfch-projects-awarded.pdf

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[omamatt]

Thanks to @Gshenderson for bringing up this Texas government contract. See link below. Click on projects awarded and you will find that Retail EV Charging North/Central/South LLC won a lot of the stations. I looked up the addresses for this group and they are Bucee’s locations. For those who don’t live in Texas and don’t know what Bucees is, it is a Texas sized gas station/convenience store with really clean bathrooms.

https://www.tceq.texas.gov/downloads/air-quality/terp/txvemp/txvemp-dcfch-projects-awarded.pdf

Amazing place!

 

[ironpig]

That’s great. Seems like the perfect type of business to have lots of chargers.

 

[TXR1S]

Any way to know what kind of chargers will be going in?

 

[Gshenderson]

Below is a link to the TCEQ website that has information about the overall Volkswagen settlement program in the state. I didn’t look through all of the docs, but these sites usually have info on the requirement to receive funding which often specify types of chargers and deadlines for having them installed. At least that was the case in WY and MT when I was researching there.

https://www.tceq.texas.gov/agency/trust

Most states should have this type of information on their Evironmental department website. Just Google the state name and “Volkswagen settlement chargers” or something like that.

 

[moosetags]

We also love Buc-ee's. We always stop when we see one. Buc-ee's is probably the best gas stations in the history of the world!!! If Buc-ee's is taking on EV charging, they will do it right.

Brian

 

[Lsthrz]

Buccee’s are a highway trip institution in Texas! Only a matter of time till they get their EV face on ?

 

[rodhx]

The Bucee’s near Birmingham was shown to constructing chargers with state funding but no construction to date and I have noticed it is no longer shown on Plugshare. Hopefully it comes to fruition.

 

[R1Sky Business]

Which EV charging Company?

 

[electruck]

I guess I shouldn't complain, the more charging infrastructure, the better. But while these locations will be great for travel within the Texas Triangle, they seem to offer practically nothing for other areas of the state. Nothing in the panhandle or out west.

 

[Longhorngirl]

Which EV charging Company?

That is a great question. None of the winners of the grants were charging companies, though EVgo, Tesla, and ChargePoint applied. Most of the applicants seems like they were gas stations. Obviously, they are going to have to order chargers from a charging company.

 

[Longhorngirl]

I guess I shouldn't complain, the more charging infrastructure, the better. But while these locations will be great for travel within the Texas Triangle, they seem to offer practically nothing for other areas of the state. Nothing in the panhandle or out west.

Once the bipartisan infrastructure bill money starts flowing, I expect coverage will be more spread out. I assume the $400mm we get can build several thousand stations, maybe 3k to 4k stations, across Texas.
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/so...chargers-under-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is charging ahead with plans to create a nationwide network of charging stations for electric vehicles as part of an effort to get more Americans out of gas-powered vehicles and curb climate change. Texas is getting the largest slice of funding.

What You Need To Know

• Texas is eligible to receive more than $60 million this year to install electric vehicle charging stations and more than $400 million over a five-year period
• According to a 2015 Department of Energy report, the cost of an election vehicle charging station can range from $300 to $51,000 depending on whether it is residential or non-residential, the utility costs, installers in the region and charging speed
• Texas will receive more funding than any other state, largely due to its size
• The growth in electric vehicle manufacturing and sales in the state also contributes to the amount of funding Texas will receive

Colin Leyden of Austin has been driving his electric-powered Nissan Leaf for about two years. He said it has been fun to drive, but it is not the only plus.

“You're not only helping to save the planet through reducing climate emissions, but you're also cleaning the air around our city,” Leyden said. “As the technology improves, they become even more and more affordable. And the cost of maintenance on an EV is a lot less as well as the cost of fuel.”

As Texas political director for the Environmental Defense Fund, he welcomes the administration’s push to build more electric vehicle charging stations around the country.

“We need the EV charging infrastructure to go coast-to-coast across the country. Here in Texas, we need it as well,” he said. “We have a lot of highways. A lot of people are reticent to buy an electric vehicle because of the lack of charging stations. So this is a very important step in getting EVs in the hands of everybody.”

Under the trillion-dollar infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden, Texas is eligible to receive more than $60 million this year to install the charging stations and more than $400 million over a five-year period. That is more than any other state will receive.

According to a 2015 Department of Energy report, the cost of an election vehicle charging station can range from $300 to $51,000, depending on whether it is residential or non-residential, utility costs, installers in the region and charging speed.

The administration is asking states to develop and submit a plan regarding how the funds will be spent.

“We want to make sure that more people can buy electric vehicles and feel comfortable that they will be able to charge them wherever they go,” Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm told Capital Tonight. “The spine means that we want to make sure that these electric vehicle charging stations are along the federal corridors in the main transportation routes of the country.”

Granholm said the large allocation of funds for Texas is, in part, due to the state’s size. She also pointed to the growth in electric vehicle manufacturing and sales in the state.

Tesla is currently building its so-called Gigafactory east of Austin, and on Monday, DeLorean Motor Company announced it will begin an electric vehicle production enterprise and selected San Antonio as home base.

This, Granholm said, is happening even as Texas leaders like Gov. Greg Abbott have voiced a preference for oil and gas over renewable energy.

Last year Abbott told the United Nations to “pound sand” after criticism of the Texas’ fuel use. He tweeted, “The world is reeling from spiraling fuel costs caused by premature over-reliance on renewable energy.”

“Texas has been amazing in wind and solar, number one and number two. It is just doing gangbusters on renewable energy. I can't imagine that the leadership of Texas, regardless of political party, would want to deprive its citizens of the opportunity to access charging stations if they purchase an electric vehicle,” Granholm said.

The Texas Department of Transportation’s Public Information Office confirmed the agency is currently working on a developing the plan based on the Federal Highway Administration’s guidance.

“Assuming new federal regulatory requirements do not impede execution of the program, there is an opportunity for the state to create jobs, attract private sector investment, realize economic benefits for local – especially rural – communities and establish charging infrastructure that is convenient, affordable and reliable,” a TXDOT spokesperson told Capital Tonight.

As for Leyden, he said he hopes congressional lawmakers are able to pass even more provisions under the President’s Build Back Better agenda aimed at tackling climate change and he said believes there is growing opportunity in Texas.

“Texas needs to be on the leading edge of this if we want to continue to remain a leader in transportation and energy,” Leyden said.

 

[R1Sky Business]

That is a great question. None of the winners of the grants were charging companies, though EVgo, Tesla, and ChargePoint applied. Most of the applicants seems like they were gas stations. Obviously, they are going to have to order chargers from a charging company.

That's not good

 

[R1Sky Business]

That is a great question. None of the winners of the grants were charging companies, though EVgo, Tesla, and ChargePoint applied. Most of the applicants seems like they were gas stations. Obviously, they are going to have to order chargers from a charging company.

More apps, cards, nfc systems, incompatibility issues.....

 

[bhopkins]

My guess is the gas stations will partner with an existing charging partner (EA, EvGo, Chargepoint). The station is likely to make money on people stopping in and buying stuff until they’re charged.

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