EV Charging Station Coming to The Valley
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular across the country. Tesla is the leading EV maker in the U.S., but other vehicle manufacturers are making headway in the market. Right now, less than 1% of vehicles in The Valley are EVs, but that number will surely grow over time. EV owners in The Valley got great news this week as a new, state-of-the-art EV charging station is being built in the Leaning Pine community.
E.T. Shockley has been a Tesla owner for 5 years now, and he loves his Tesla. Shockley said, “I was the first person in our area to get a Tesla, and people thought I was crazy. Most still think I’m crazy, but that’s ok. A big problem for us EV owners is a lack of charging stations in rural areas. I decided to change that.” Shockley lives on Hwy. 81 in Leaning Pine in southwest Smith County. His charging station will have 7 charging ports that will fit all EVs.
Shockley said, “EV adoption is going to be slow in The Valley. These people love their gas guzzling trucks and SUVs, and EV owners have a certain stigma. But, I’m doing my part to save our planet. If you build it, they will come right? My goal is to have a mini Buc-ee’s for EV owners.”
Shockley’s facility is going to have a plethora of amenities in addition to the charging station. He’s going to have a coffee shop and restaurant. His signature dishes are going to be the avocado toast and tofu. It will also have a very nice lounge area with televisions and free wifi similar to an airport, and Shockley hopes this will be a magnet for area freelance artists and writers. It will also have a play area for kids.
I talked to a few Leaning Pine residents about the facility. One resident said, “E.T. is full of crap, and he’s wasting his money. Nobody around here drives a stupid EV.” Another area resident said, “I won’t be using his charging station, but I might try the avocado toast. I’ll have to get it to go though; I don’t want any of my buddies seeing me eat it.”
Shockley plans to start construction in the next few weeks. The facility will bring around 10 jobs to the area, and Shockley is excited about that. He said, “I’m glad to bring jobs to The Valley, and I’m glad to do my part to save the planet.” We’ll keep you updated on the facility’s progress in the coming months.