Walmart has revealed what it’s got in store going forward. By 2030, it wants to put thousands of stores that are equipped with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The stores affected by the suit include both Walmart and Sam’s Club locations throughout the U.S.
Helping EV Drivers
People are many that would want to drive electric cars. They worry about where to charge them. Walmart wants to contribute to solving this problem. Such as, it already has 1,300 chargers at 280 stores. Now, it aims to add many more, even a five digit number of chargers altogether.
These new chargers will be owned and operated by Walmart. In the past, it worked with companies including Electrify America and EVgo. Instead, those companies placed chargers at Walmart stores. Now, Walmart wants to own the charging network, maintain and operate it.
EV Chargers at Convenient Locations
Walmart’s locations are one of the reasons this plan is exciting. Some 90% of Americans are within 10 miles of a Walmart or Sam’s Club. That means that most people would be able to charge their EVs near where they live.
Walmart operates more than 4,700 Walmart stores and 600 Sam’s Clubs in the U.S. According to the company, the program should see four chargers installed at each store that joins, around one every two weeks.
Placed in stores parking lots, these stations will be. When they can’t get their cars charged, they are enabled to shop while they wait. This makes charging time more practical and less blah.
Fast and Modern EV Chargers
The company will also make use of powerful fast chargers. They will be 400 kW chargers that will recharge an EV very quickly. One car was able to charge at more than 300 kW at a test site in Texas.
Walmart intends on using chargers that are CCS1 as well as NACS. That means that most of the electric vehicles on the road will be able to take advantage of that. Later down the road their focus could turn into NACS plugs since they are being picked up.
Both trusted equipment makers, Alpitronic and ABB, whose chargers have been tested and are planned to be bought by Walmart.
Easy and Affordable Charging
It will be a simple process of charging. Users can simply scan a QR code with the Walmart app, select the appropriate plug, and charging begins. Meanwhile, they also plan to add credit card payments in the future.
And Walmart says it continues to want to keep its prices low. It is cheaper than some of the other stations nearby, charging a user $0.42 per kilowatt hour. This lands well with Walmart’s blue budget mission.
A Step Toward a Greener Future
Adam Happel is the person who is leading this project. Before, he has worked in the EV charging field — at Rivian and EVgo. That experience may bring Walmart good luck in building a network that is trusted.
Walmart believes this project will make owning an electric car easier and less stressful. People will know they can charge their cars in a clean, safe, and bright place.
The U.S. government is also supporting EV charging. It is investing $7.5 billion in new stations, especially in rural and low-income areas. Walmart’s plan could work well with this effort.
Conclusion
By 2030, Walmart wants to become a key player in electric vehicle charging. It will place thousands of chargers at its stores, helping more people switch to electric cars. With strong chargers, easy payment, and good prices, Walmart could make EV charging simpler and available for everyone.
