Walmart is planning to build its very own coast-to-coast EV charging network. The stores of the company will play host to thousands of new RV fast charging stations by the year 2030.
Walmart EV Charging Network
Supply chain store Walmart is at the moment planning to build out a nationwide electric vehicle charging network at tons of its stores, and this is including Sam’s Club locations. The company states that it plans to have the network built by 2030 and it will help make EV ownership “more accessible, reliable, convenient and affordable.”
“Currently, Walmart has nearly 1,300 third-party chargers across 280 stores in partnership with third-party suppliers,” director of global communications – sustainability at Walmart, Aman Singh, in an email with The Verge wrote. This recently announced expansion has the firm building a nationwide EV fast-charging network on its own instead.
Walmart Believes To Build a Convenient Charging Solution for Owners of EV
Walmart however believes that it is “uniquely positioned” to build out a convenient charging solution for owners of EVs. The company has stated that its stores and wholesale warehouses are located “within 10 miles of approximately 90% of Americans.” The company is aiming to offer shoppers “Every Day Low Cost charging” at its various stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, as well as Sam’s Clubs. Walmart says that its charging locations will reportedly be “clean, bright, and safe” for owners of EVs.
And in addition to expanding electric vehicle charging, the supply chain company plans to make its very own logistics emissions-free by the year 2040 and has now incorporated EVs into its Walmart Plus shopping deliveries. Walmart has been working with companies such as GM’s BrightDrop and Canoo in a bid to build last-mile delivery fleets, the latter of which, however, had been embattled with the SEC and just recently paid out a $1.5 million settlement.
Other Companies to Take Up Similar Moves
The EV charging network news of Walmart comes as many more businesses continue to announce “nationwide” charging solutions in the United States and this is including firms such as 7-Eleven, DC America, and BP. Other companies such as kea and Starbucks are also on the lookout to becoming charging hubs but are however relying on specialized firms such as ChargePoint and Electrify America o help them take care of the logistics involved for them.
The Reality and Problems of Charging Infrastructures
The reality of charging infrastructures at the moment includes the problems of reliability and heavy fragmentation where owners of EVs at most times must register with several charging network companies, and in order to fight off all of these challenges, the Biden-led administration’s inflated Reduction Act is now providing incentives for groups that are building out public-use charging stations in order to make them more accessible, reliable and abundant.
MORE RELATED POSTS
