Texas Triangle EV Road Trip: Powered Entirely by Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging
There is nothing quite like hitting the open road for a weekend adventure, especially when it involves exploring brand-new EV charging infrastructure. We packed our bags and set off from Dallas, Texas, making our way down to Houston and Katy before looping back. The goal? To experience the Texas Triangle—a heavily traveled corridor connecting major Texas hubs—and see if we could power the entire 500+ mile road trip strictly using the new Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging Network.
Spoiler alert: Not only did we complete the trip effortlessly, but we also got to test out some of the sleekest, most driver-friendly charging hardware on the market today. Here is how our Texas road trip unfolded, complete with range figures, charging performance, and our favorite roadside stops.
Trip Overview & Charging Log
Before hitting the road, we mapped out our route using the Mercedes-Benz charging network stations scattered across the Texas Triangle. With around 16 operational or planned stations in the region, spacing was never an issue. Here is a quick snapshot of our route metrics and charging sessions during the journey.
Trip Specs Overview
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Starting Location | Dallas, Texas |
| Destination / Loop | Katy & Houston, TX (Return to Dallas) |
| Total Route Distance | ~500+ Miles |
| Charging Network Used | Mercedes-Benz High-Power Charging (Open to ALL EVs) |
| Peak Station Power Output | Up to 400 kW (Alpitronic & ChargePoint OmniPort) |
| Connector Compatibility | Native CCS1 & NACS (No personal adapters required) |
Complete Charging Log
| Stop Location | Start SoC | End SoC | Peak Speed | Energy Added | Session Cost | Amenities & Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temple, TX | 29% | 100% | 156 kW | ~55 kWh | Standard Rate | Buc-ee's, OmniPort, picnic tables, pet relief area |
| Katy, TX | 35% | 92% | 125 kW | 43.73 kWh | $20.12 ($0.46/kWh) | Buc-ee's, dual CCS/NACS cables, ADA accessible stalls |
| Madisonville, TX | 41% | 87% | 121 kW | 36.29 kWh | $17.71 ($0.49/kWh) | Buc-ee's, scenic walking trails, car squeegee & air station |
| Dallas Outskirts, TX | 33% | 77% | 114+ kW | ~32 kWh | Standard Rate | 10 stalls, high-overhead cable management, green space |
Leg 1: Dallas to Temple, Texas
We rolled out of Dallas on a bright morning with 195 miles of range showing on our dash. Our target stop was in Temple, Texas, roughly 130 miles south. Watching the infrastructure bridges and ornate overpasses of Dallas fade into the rearview mirror, we settled into a smooth cruise down the highway.
When we pulled into the Temple charging hub with 29% battery remaining, we were immediately greeted by a swanky setup located right beside a Buc-ee's travel center. This specific station features ChargePoint hardware equipped with the innovative OmniPort system.
Testing the OmniPort Technology
The OmniPort dispenser is a total win for EV drivers. You do not need to pull out your own NACS-to-CCS or CCS-to-NACS adapter. On the station touchscreen, you simply select your connection type:
- Select CCS, and the handle detaches as a standard CCS1 connector.
- Select NACS, and the station mechanically locks the built-in adapter onto the plug before you pull it out.
We plugged in, tapped our payment, and watched the station initialize rapidly. Power quickly ramped up to 156 kW. The overhead cable management system utilizes a swinging arm that keeps heavy high-voltage cables off the ground, making handling lightweight and preventing dirty hands.
While the car juiced up, we grabbed Carolina pulled pork sandwiches inside Buc-ee's, hung out at the dedicated covered picnic tables next to the chargers, and chatted with fellow EV drivers—including folks charging an Ioniq 5, a GMC Hummer EV with a trailer, and a Tesla. In fact, we had such a relaxing time enjoying the weather and dog-watching that we accidentally let the car charge all the way to 100%!
Leg 2: Temple to Katy & Houston Backroads
With a full battery, we set our navigation for Katy, Texas—a 160-mile drive down scenic two-lane roads. Cruising through rural Texas offered plenty of charm, small towns, and plenty of large cattle grazing along the fence lines.
We arrived at the Katy Mercedes-Benz charging station with 35% state of charge. This station uses 400 kW Alpitronic Hyperchargers. Instead of an OmniPort selector, these dispensers feature separate, dedicated CCS and NACS cables side-by-side on each stall.
Accessibility & App-Free Payment
One detail we really appreciate about the Mercedes-Benz HPC network design is its focus on physical accessibility:
- ADA-Designated Bays: Extra-wide, flat parking stalls allow plenty of room for wheelchair ramps and mobility devices.
- Ergonomic Layouts: Lowered touchscreens and reachable plug holsters ensure drivers with physical limitations can operate the equipment easily.
- Appless Receipts: You can pay directly via credit card tap-and-pay or phone tap. After charging, a quick scan of an on-screen QR code lets you type in your email address to receive a detailed session breakdown without downloading a single app.
Our session added 43.73 kWh in under 25 minutes at a rate of 46 cents per kWh, bringing us to 92% state of charge. From there, we checked into our hotel and spent the evening grabbing dinner at Nando's peri-peri chicken in Katy, soaking in the local atmosphere despite a rain shower passing through.
Leg 3: Heading Back North — Katy to Madisonville
After spent time exploring local artistic attractions like Meow Wolf, it was time to point our wheels north back toward Dallas. Our morning drive took us along the busy interstate corridors connecting the Texas Triangle cities.
Our scheduled pitstop was in Madisonville, Texas. We pulled up to another 10-stall Mercedes-Benz charging hub at 41% state of charge. Plugging in, our session hit a steady 121 kW rate right out of the gate.
This Madisonville location was one of the most picturesque stops on the route. Beyond the standard Buc-ee's restrooms and cold sodas, the charging plaza sat next to a grassy slope surrounded by trees, complete with pet relief stations, squeegee cleaning supplies, and air/water stations for tires. In just 23 minutes, we added 36.29 kWh for $17.71 and climbed to 87% SoC, giving us more than enough range to push into the Dallas metro area.
Leg 4: Final Dallas Top-Off & Community Meetup
Before returning our vehicle at the airport, we made one last short stop on the outskirts of Dallas at 33% SoC to top off the battery. The chargers once again performed seamlessly, ramping right past 114 kW within seconds.
We capped off our road trip weekend by hosting an EV community meetup at a local Nando's in Dallas. Despite a flight cancellation scramble that required us to rebook last minute, over a dozen local EV enthusiasts showed up to share stories, compare road trip experiences, and talk shop about expanding fast-charging infrastructure across Texas.
Key Takeaways from the Mercedes-Benz Charging Network
After driving over 500 miles across Texas relying solely on Mercedes-Benz charging locations, several clear advantages stand out for electric vehicle drivers:
- Open to All Brands: You do not need to drive a Mercedes-Benz to charge here. Whether you drive a Tesla, Hyundai, Rivian, or GM vehicle, native CCS and NACS connections make it seamless for everyone.
- Top-Tier Amenities: Every site we visited was placed alongside major travel stops featuring clean restrooms, extensive food options, pet relief areas, and covered seating.
- Ultra-Fast Speeds: With hardware rated up to 400 kW, the station is rarely the bottleneck—your car will draw as much power as its battery management system safely allows.
- Hassle-Free Payment: Standard credit card readers, clear dynamic screens showing full session metrics (voltage, current, and total kW), and simple email receipts remove the friction of modern EV road tripping.
If you are planning a drive through the Texas Triangle or anywhere else these stations are popping up, confidence in charging reliability makes the journey smooth and stress-free. Wherever you drive and whatever you charge, enjoy the ride!
