Walmart announces plans to build nationwide EV charging network

[DragonSlayer101]

What just happened? In a major development that could help make electric vehicles more mainstream in North America, Walmart has announced plans to install EV charging stations at thousands of its US stores by 2030. The new chargers will be in addition to the almost 1,300 EV fast-charging stations the company has already installed in partnership with Electrify America at more than 280 of its facilities across the country.

In a blog post announcing its new roadmap, the world's largest retailer said that the chargers will be installed at both Walmart and Sam's Club locations to make EV ownership "more accessible, reliable, convenient and affordable."

According to the company, the upcoming "coast-to-coast" network will not only make it easy for people to charge their vehicles close to their home, but also help those who are taking their EVs on a cross-country trip by offering them a convenient and affordable charging option in a "clean, bright and safe location."

Walmart says that its stores, including Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam's Clubs, are located within 10 miles of approximately 90% of Americans, which should help millions of EV drivers across the US get a convenient charging option, irrespective of whether they live in rural, suburban or urban areas.

The planned EV charging network is part of Walmart's efforts to help reduce automotive emissions for a more sustainable future. Towards that end, the company has already started transitioning its fleet from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric to reduce its carbon footprint and become a zero-emission organization by 2040.

Alongside Walmart, a number of other companies have also announced their own nationwide EV charging networks over the past year. That includes the likes of 7-Eleven, BP, DC-America, Ikea and Starbucks, some of whom have tied up with Electrify America and ChargePoint to take care of the logistics.

Electric vehicles have become increasingly popular in the US over the past few years. Tesla is by far the leading EV manufacturer in the country, with its Model Y being among the highest-selling cars across all segments. The company reported record deliveries in Q1, 2023, helped in no small measure by recent price cuts. Last year, EV sales in the US rose a whopping 65%, even as total vehicle sales dropped 8%.

The federal government has also been offering several incentives to EV buyers to help them make the switch to lower-emission cars. A notable example is the $7,500 tax credit on several EV models, as well as the $5 billion in federal funding earmarked for a nationwide EV charging network.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/98229-walmart-announces-plans-build-nationwide-ev-charging-network.html

 

[psycros]

One thing I bet this *won't* be is free to the public. If it were then you'd have jerks rolling up with an adapter and 50 mobile power banks daisy-chained. And that's to say nothing of the "free spirits" living in Wal-Mart lots in their RVs. The most laughable part of all this is that EVs are actually more polluting than regular cars when you factor in production, coal-fired power generation and disposal at EoL.

 

[bviktor]

One thing I bet this *won't* be is free to the public. If it were then you'd have jerks rolling up with an adapter and 50 mobile power banks daisy-chained. And that's to say nothing of the "free spirits" living in Wal-Mart lots in their RVs.

Why on Earth would it be free?

The most laughable part of all this is that EVs are actually more polluting than regular cars when you factor in production, coal-fired power generation and disposal at EoL.

Once again, you're telling lies. A Model 3 becomes cleaner in 13k kms with 100% renewables, in under 25k kms on the current US energy mix, and within 125k km even with 100% coal (which will never happen).

And this is compared to a Toyota Corolla, which has maybe 1/2 the emissions of the average American truck.

 

[p51d007]

Bet they will make you use the "walmart app" or some such trackable thing.
I can see the ads now....charge your EV while you shop at Wallyworld.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Which is good, this is the kind of infrastructure you need EVERYWHERE for EVs to be viable.

My question is, how many chargers per store? Are you going to build these through the entire parking lot, or only 4-5 spots that are going to be fought over constantly? And if they are going to do the whole parking lot, will they be doing covered parking with solar panels for local generation?

 

[StupidPeopleSuk]

Wallyworld/Starzsuks/711 can build all the charging stations they want, but unless & until ALL the plugs are the same on EVERY EV everywhere for every brand of vehicle, they will be wasting their time & money, and ours too....

And YES, you can bet your arse you WILL be required to use the WM app to get da juice AND to pay them for it, and then they will bombard your phones & emails with even MORE ads for every single thing they sell 24/7/365

And taking until 2030 to get 'em done aint gonna cut it... we (us everyday folks who wanna buy EV's TODAY but can't/won't) need them to get built asap, like, yesterday...

 

[scavengerspc]

One thing I bet this *won't* be is free to the public.

I can promise it will be just as free as smoke juice.

The most laughable part of all this is that EVs are actually more polluting than regular cars when you factor in production, coal-fired power generation and disposal at EoL.

Actually, that statement is the most laughable part.
But I will say worldwide it is much more applicable, though there is no nation where an EV is just as or more polluting all through the chain. But here in the US and Canada, where coal is less than 20% of our supply, it's really not even close to a problem.

Which is good, this is the kind of infrastructure you need EVERYWHERE for EVs to be viable.

My question is, how many chargers per store? Are you going to build these through the entire parking lot, or only 4-5 spots that are going to be fought over constantly? And if they are going to do the whole parking lot, will they be doing covered parking with solar panels for local generation?

Probably in the same place some stores already have them. On the same site as the black smoke juice.

 

[wiyosaya]

Actually, that statement is the most laughable part.
But I will say worldwide it is much more applicable, though there is no nation where an EV is just as or more polluting all through the chain. But here in the US and Canada, where coal is less than 20% of our supply, it's really not even close to a problem.

psycros already knows that; however, psycros seems to think that repeating the same BS over and over again makes it true. (Yup - its a word play on Einstein's definition of insanity). Either that, or psycros is in a constant hypnotic trance after listening to some EV-denier propaganda from Big Oil Land.

 

[Jrfeimst2]

Which is good, this is the kind of infrastructure you need EVERYWHERE for EVs to be viable.

My question is, how many chargers per store? Are you going to build these through the entire parking lot, or only 4-5 spots that are going to be fought over constantly? And if they are going to do the whole parking lot, will they be doing covered parking with solar panels for local generation?

Considering most charging is done at your house you really don’t need many chargers. Unless you live in apartments or condos. Which I think developers should start putting chargers in at apartments/condos for the residents. They should have a code to the chargers so people that don’t live there can’t use them and clog them up.