Grocery chain H‑E‑B announced plans to install electric-vehicle charging stations at two of its San Antonio stores, joining a wave of Texas retailers adapting to the rise of EVs. The new stations will be located at H-E-B’s Leon Valley Marketplace and its larger Bandera Road/Loop 1604 store. Each project is estimated to cost about $600,000 and will be built in partnership with Electrify America, the VW-Group-owned charging-network provider. Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2026, with completion expected by December of that year.
The grocery chain said the “hyper-fast” stations will be compatible with most electric vehicles, though H-E-B did not disclose pricing details or whether charging will be discounted for shoppers. “H-E-B continues to look for ways to serve customers and communities as technology evolves,” a company spokesperson said.
The announcement comes as Texas accelerates efforts to build a statewide network of EV-charging infrastructure. Under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program and authorized by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plans to deploy a system of chargers spaced about every 50 miles and within a mile of most interstate exits, as part of a roughly $408 million allocation for fiscal years 2022-2026. About 80 % of that amount comes from federal funding. Besides roadway infrastructure programs, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality offers grants of up to $150,000 per charging unit (capped at $600,000 per project site) to help offset costs for private- and public-site installations.
Many shoppers welcomed the move as a convenient step toward cleaner transportation, though some raised concerns. One commented on social media: “This is a good idea, electrics are growing. Just hope they don’t take up all the front spots.” Industry analysts say that offering fast charging may help H-E-B differentiate itself from competitors by turning grocery stops into multi-purpose pit-stops for EV drivers.
