# Charge-and-Dine Roadside Stops Bojangles Debuted Its First EV Charging Station in Savannah By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2026-05-22 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/charge-and-dine References: [bojangles](https://www.bojangles.com/news-and-community/bojangles-installs-first-ev-charging-station-redefining-the-roadside-stop-with-a-new-charge-and-dine-experience/)  The drive-thru may have defined a generation of on-the-go eating, but the way drivers and their passengers are picking up and eating food on the road is changing, leading Bojangles to debut its first EV charging station for [charge-and-dine experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tesla-diner). At 4401 Ogeechee Road in Savannah, Georgia, drivers will find a convenient place to pull in for the convenient, comforting Southern flavor Bojangles is known for, and top off their battery. “With EV charging, time becomes an asset," said Richard Del Valle, Chief Information Officer at Bojangles. "We’re turning that stop into something meaningful: a chance to relax, refuel and enjoy a true Bojangles experience. This is about more than charging vehicles, it’s about redefining the stop along the way.” [Bojangles'](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bojangles1) first EV charging station was made possible in partnership with electric vehicle charging and sustainable infrastructure innovator XLR8 America. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.5/10 - Popularity: 47% | Activity: 42% | Freshness: 77% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Charge-and-dine Experiences:** Combining EV charging with dine-in or takeaway transforms short stops into extended customer engagement points that enable new revenue models and service formats. - **Integrated EV Charging-retail Hubs:** Retail locations that embed high-power chargers create destinations where retail assortment and dwell-time can be reimagined around charging cycles. - **Time-as-a-service Mobility Stops:** Framing charging time as a usable service window opens possibilities for curated experiences, subscriptions, and time-based monetization tied to vehicle energy needs. ### Who This Affects Most - **Quick-service Restaurants:** Fast-casual and drive-thru chains could shift to hybrid hospitality models where extended dwell times during charging support premium offerings and loyalty ecosystems. - **Electric Vehicle Infrastructure:** Charging network operators stand to expand beyond pure energy delivery into customer experience platforms that integrate retail partnerships and data services. - **Retail Real Estate:** Parking and site design for retail landlords may evolve to prioritize charging amenities that increase footfall duration and enable mixed-use service bundles. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Southern Strawberry Cobbler Desserts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/strawberry-cobbler.md) - [Bike-Thru Coffee Pop-Ups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bike-thru-coffee-pop-up.md) - [Football-Inspired Fast-Food Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/big-bo-box-lineup.md) - [Voice AI Drive-Thrus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Voice-AI-drive-thrus.md) - [Lifestyle Coffee Expansion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Lifestyle-coffee-expansion.md) - [Spooky Drive-Thru Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/boojangles.md) - [Wrestling-Celebrating Sandwich Combos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wwe-sandwich-combo.md) - [AI Order Takers Deployed](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hi-auto-ai-order-taker.md) - [Integrated Drive-Thru Payment Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/square-for-drivethru.md)