Walmart has announced a plan to expand its electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations at thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations across the US, aiming to make EV ownership more accessible, reliable, convenient, and affordable.
The company plans to build its own EV fast-charging network at thousands of locations coast-to-coast by 2030. The charging stations will be located within 10 miles of about 90% of Americans, making charging more accessible to those who live in rural, suburban or urban areas.
“Easy access to on-the-go charging is a game-changer for drivers who have been hesitant to purchase an EV for concerns they won’t be able to find a charger in a clean, bright and safe location when needed,” said Vishal Kapadia, Senior Vice President of Energy Transformation, in a statement on Thursday.
Walmart’s chargers will be located on site with its Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Clubs, providing the convenience of being able to pick up essentials or grab a bite to eat while customers charge their EVs.
Furthermore, Walmart aims to offer Every Day Low Price charging to help ease transportation costs, which is still the second highest household cost for much of the US. This plan is a natural extension of Walmart’s efforts to help customers and members live better, easier, and more sustainable lives, and will help expand domestic EV charging capacity across states as more drivers transition to EVs.
Kapadia added, “The way vehicle ownership looks is changing fast, and so is our business. We are committed to providing customers, members, associates, suppliers and our communities at large with the services they need and want, in a way that fits their lifestyle – making EV ownership easy and simple is no exception.”
The company has previously announced tests across its supply chain vehicle and fuel classes toward its goal of achieving zero emissions by 2040. Walmart’s move towards offering more EV charging stations across the US will make it easier for EV owners to travel without worrying about the availability of charging points.
