Inside Walmart’s push to build its own EV charging network
Walmart installed its first company-branded EV charger last year. Now, the retailer has 838 charging ports in place at a hundred stores, and construction is underway at a hundred other sites. Last month, it grew faster than any electric vehicle charging network other than Tesla’s. And by 2030, the retailer has said that it plans to have a network that extends to thousands of locations. The…
Walmart has installed 838 company-branded EV charging ports in 100 stores, with construction underway at another 100 sites in 2023. The retailer aims to expand its network to thousands of locations by 2030, potentially filling gaps in charging infrastructure across the country. Roughly 90% of Americans live within 10 minutes of a Walmart store, and many are located near major highways.
Walmart's senior vice president of Energy, Shayne Wahlmeier, says the company wants to offer affordable, consistent, and easy-to-understand charging similar to its shopping experience. Customers can charge through Walmart's app or with credit cards, and the new fast chargers have dual cords for different EVs. Walmart Plus members receive a 10% discount on charging, mirroring the discount offered for gas sales.
The chargers are located near entrances to encourage shopping trips, and Walmart has plans to continue expanding the network at a rapid pace.
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