Stay tuned for thousands of sites featuring tens of thousands of 400 kW DC fast charging stations all located within a ten-mile radius of your residence.
There’s no denying that Walmart has been discreetly developing its own electric vehicle charging network.
company announced
As far back as more than a year ago. Nevertheless, up until recently, it had remained reticent regarding its approach—up till this point.
I secured an exclusive interview with Adam Happel, Walmart’s General Manager of Retail EV Charging, as the company agreed to talk in detail about the Walmart EV charging network plans for the first time.
Following my 20-minute discussion with Happel, it’s evident that Walmart intends to continue doing what has made them successful: providing their customers with an enhanced shopping experience compared to rivals, focusing on affordability, ease of access, and superior value. It goes without saying that Walmart did not achieve its status as the biggest retail giant by chance.
Fast-Charging Solutions Ubiquitous and Dependable Everywhere
Happel explained that the retailer intends to install Walmart EV charging stations at “thousands of its locations by 2030” and continue installing more in the next decade. He didn’t offer any specific number of stalls per location, only that “each site stall count will depend on market conditions”. Happel said they will take into consideration the number of EVs in each specific market as well as how many other networks operate nearby.
If there aren’t any other EV charging stations in the area, Walmart will install more charging stalls than if there are other fast charging options. He also explained that Walmart will monitor utilization, and the sites will be designed to easily add more chargers when needed to prevent customer queuing.
Following trials with different charging providers, Walmart chose Alpitronic and ABB as their first set of suppliers though they mentioned being open to other brands too. Users can start and settle charges via the Walmart application irrespective of whether the charger belongs to one brand over another.
I similarly queried Happel about the status of the chargers functioning on other networks at present within Walmart premises.
Electrify America
For example, numerous locations are situated on Walmart premises. According to Haddad, Walmart’s collaborators have been excellent so far. As the company expands its Walmart network further, they plan to reconsider their approach to working with these partners moving ahead.
I went to Walmart’s primary official website (note that there are now two additional sites—one located in Texas and another in Arkansas; however, these serve as pilot testing locations) in McKinney, Texas, to try out the platform and recharge using a rental.
GMC Hummer EV
At a 400 kW Alpitronic charger station, there are four chargers servicing eight parking spots. Every charger includes both an NACS and a CCS1 connection, allowing simultaneous charging for two electric vehicles. These chargers can allocate up to 400 kW of power between the two cables, providing each with a maximum current of 600 amps as needed. However, this arrangement does not benefit
Nissan LEAF
Owners, this will not happen.
CHAdeMO
connectors at all these positions.
The Hummer absorbed more than 300 kW for some time, during which I went from 1% to 53% battery level in just 27 minutes, with the charger delivering 100 kWh of power. The total bill came to $42.00 since the current rate at this location is $0.42 per kWh. According to Happel, Walmart’s pricing across their network won’t be uniform; instead, prices will vary based on regional electric costs. Additionally, he mentioned that Walmart Plus members might receive discounts similar to those provided on other products and services within the company when using these chargers.
Walmart’s Charging Policy Is Set To Change
Currently, Walmart manages more than 4,600 stores along with approximately 600 Sam’s Clubs across the U.S., which amounts to around 5,200 possible sites. Indeed, over 90% of Americans reside within a 10-mile radius of at least one store, leaving only a small fraction under 10%, who typically inhabit remote rural regions where electric vehicles have not been widely adopted yet.
This detail is significant since one of the major hurdles electric vehicle (EV) charging networks encounter is finding suitable sites. Historically, each EV charging network has needed to scout possible spots, reach out to landowners, and try to secure extended leases for specific areas where they could set up their chargers and electrical equipment. However, the Ionna network stands apart as it is buying the properties at certain locations—often old gas stations—which we appreciate.
Walmart primarily owns the properties where its stores are located, eliminating the need to seek out new sites or obtain permissions from others. Additionally, as usage grows, Walmart has the flexibility to install extra charging stations to handle increased electric vehicle traffic effortlessly. This capability sets them apart from all other networks.
A significant hurdle for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure lies in the substantial financial investment required per location. Constructing a single station with ten stalls capable of delivering 350 kW DC fast-charging may entail costs ranging from $300,000 up to more than $500,000 at times. Given that Walmart anticipates revenues exceeding $700 billion by 2025, deciding whether to allocate sufficient resources toward establishing an extensive national network is not about capability but rather strategic prioritization.
will
they.
Moreover, because the retail stores are located on-site, the employees work there as well. Therefore, if an electric vehicle charging customer requires assistance, a knowledgeable Walmart staff member will be available to help during standard operating hours, usually spanning from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.
I think providing chargers along with staff at your location could significantly mitigate an issue faced by numerous networks: detecting and fixing faulty chargers. You can count on the fact that once a charger stops working or sustains damage, customers will promptly head to the store to inform management about it. Currently, for most other networks, the process of flagging broken chargers involves submitting comments via the application.
Facing a Walmart manager directly to express concerns about defective chargers is far more effective than having an out-of-town support agent read your feedback days after you submitted it online. A local manager would feel personally engaged and motivated to resolve the issue swiftly since they wouldn’t want to encounter the same complaint again next week when the problem persists.
The Walmart Charging Impact
There should be no doubt that the Walmart charging network could revolutionize the sector within the United States. Picture this: by 2030, it might establish between 2,000 to 3,000 charging sites featuring 25,000 to 30,000 docks capable of rapidly recharging both CCS and NACS-compatible cars at rates as high as 400 kW.
To provide some context, Tesla presently boasts approximately 2,600 Supercharger stations featuring around 30,000 charging spots across the United States. In less than half a decade, Walmart might be able to replicate what Tesla accomplished over more than a dozen years. With ample funds, numerous store sites, and seemingly strong motivation, achieving this seems within reach for them.
Moreover, consider how this could affect Walmart’s rivals such as Costco and Target. These companies might need to enhance their electric vehicle (EV) charging strategies; otherwise, they may lose customers who drive EVs to Walmart instead. Why wouldn’t someone choose Walmart if they can purchase the same items and recharge their vehicles right where they’re shopping?
I believe the Walmart charging network will be appreciated more by individuals who cannot charge at home and rely on public infrastructure than those using fast chargers for long-distance travel. They can now charge their EVs without inconvenience while they perform their usual weekly shopping. And Walmart, being a value brand, I’m sure will offer competitive pricing for EV charging if not find a way to undercut the competition.
Many of my acquaintances own electric vehicles, and several who are considering purchasing one were worried about the Trump administration’s choice to terminate the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. Nonetheless, with Walmart now dedicated to establishing a national charging network, this concern has somewhat subsided.
Ionna network
As we begin, with Tesla, Electrify America, EVgo, and other networks expanding their reach, high-speed public electric vehicle charging across the U.S. will be more than adequate.
Charging News
- Walmart Upgrades Outlets to Include Nationwide EV Rapid Chargers
- Walmart Plans to Install Thousands of Electric Vehicle Chargers at Its Stores by 2030
- Is There Adequate EV Charging Infrastructure in America? It’s Complex
- At Home Level 2 Charging Stations, Installation Rates Are Soaring
- A Single Simplified Charging Option Might Increase Electric Vehicle Purchases, Finds Research
- Kia’s Rapid-Charging Network Has Now Tripled in Scale
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EV Charging Stations
