Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway quietly made a $8.2 billion acquisition that taps into the electric-vehicle boom

• Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway paid $8.2 billion to acquire Pilot Travel Centers in January.

• The investor's company raised its stake in the truck-stop chain from 38.6% to 80%.

• Pilot has partnered with GM and Volvo to develop charging networks for electric vehicles.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway quietly made a multibillion-dollar acquisition in January, the company's annual report shows. The deal promises to boost its exposure to the booming electric-vehicle industry.

The famed investor's conglomerate purchased 41.4% of Pilot Travel Centers for about $8.2 billion on January 31. The transaction lifted Berkshire's ownership of the business to 80%, as it originally bought a 38.6% stake in 2017.

Pilot is the largest operator of travel centers in North America, with more than 650 locations. Under the Pilot Flying J, Pilot Travel Centers, and Mr. Fuel brands, it offers gas, restrooms, parking, fast-food restaurants, and amenities such as laundry and showers to truck drivers and other motorists.

The truck-stop group grew its revenues from $20 billion in 2017 to $45 billion in 2021, and now generates more than $1 billion in yearly pre-tax earnings.

Moreover, Pilot partnered with General Motors last year to establish a national network of 2,000 EV charging stations by 2026. It also intends to work with Volvo to develop a similar network for battery-powered trucks. Berkshire's controlling stake in the company should mean it benefits from those infrastructure buildouts.