Walmart EV Charging Network Plans to Cover U.S. - First Hands-On Charge Experience Review

[Dive Bar Casanova]

Never enough chargers available. This looks promising:


AI generated summary:

Summary

• Walmart’s Major EV Charging Initiative: Walmart is launching its own massive EV charging network, aiming to install thousands of stations across the U.S. by 2030. Unlike other networks that lease spaces, Walmart owns the land, stores, and parking lots, allowing full control over installation, expansion, and maintenance.
• Why Walmart? Strategic Strengths:
  • 5,000+ retail locations (Walmart stores + Sam’s Clubs) ready for deployment.
  • 650 billion dollars in revenue gives them the cash to self-fund the entire expansion.
  • 90% of U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a Walmart.
  • Massive parking lots allow flexibility in charger placement without competing for space.
• Equipment and Tech Details:
  • Walmart will use 400 kW DC fast chargers: initially Alpatronic HYC 400 and ABB chargers.
  • Chargers will support both CCS1 and NACS connectors, ensuring compatibility with most EVs.
  • Customers will authenticate charging using the standard Walmart app (no need for a special EV app).
• Customer-Centric Design:
  • Chargers positioned "front and center" at store entrances for safety, visibility, and convenience.
  • Sites will be well-lit, ADA compliant, and offer pull-through stalls for trucks and trailers at some locations.
  • Walmart plans to train store associates to help with EV charging issues, offering a human support system alongside a customer care line.
• Affordable Pricing Strategy:
  • Walmart will offer "everyday low prices", not necessarily always the cheapest, but the best value based on local electricity costs and competition.
  • No national flat rate; prices will be location-specific.
  • Special benefits are coming for Walmart+ members tied to EV charging discounts.
• Leadership and Experience:
  • Walmart hired Adam Hapel, a former leader from EVgo and Rivian, to oversee the EV program, ensuring leadership with deep industry expertise.
  • Walmart’s approach benefits from years of observing EV customer behavior via their partnerships with third-party networks like Electrify America.
• Reliability as a Key Differentiator:
  • Walmart’s constant on-site presence (staff and store managers) will allow quick identification and fixing of broken chargers, unlike traditional networks where problems can linger.
  • Having in-house operations means faster expansion, repair, and upgrade abilities.
• Massive Infrastructure Impact:
  • Walmart’s initiative could single-handedly double the number of DC fast chargers in the U.S. by the end of the decade.
  • Even with government cuts to EV programs like NEVI, Walmart’s investment (plus efforts by Tesla, Ayanna, and others) suggests that U.S. EV infrastructure will thrive.
• Vision for the Future:
  • Walmart sees EV charging not just as a business move but as an extension of its omni-channel retail ecosystem.
  • The goal is for customers to shop, eat, and charge in a single stop, making Walmart a central hub for American EV drivers.
  • Their flexibility (charger type, site design, future-proofing with extra conduits) means the network can adapt and grow with the industry.

 

[OlyScout]

That is so awesome, and they’ll have stations at ALL of their stores before the first EV Scout is delivered! I kid, and good to see a serious surge at building the needed charging infrastructure!

 

[JesseS]

This is great, we have one less than 1 mile away, makes it nice if I need a faster charge than my home level 2 charger can deliver.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

EV Traveling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and back we stop and charge at the Walmart located mid-way in Barstow Ca.

Two locations in the Walmart parking lot have EA chargers.

The location nearest the entrance has way too much foot traffic mingling with and dodging EV cars backing in to charge.

The chargers at the back of the parking lot are in an ideal location but may seem scary at night for some people:

 

[No_Remorse]

Is it me, or at the 4:45min mark when he's in that Hummer...those seats look awful similar to the Scout seats...

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

We're years off, they use what they have on hand sometimes.

 

[cvollers]

Is it me, or at the 4:45min mark when he's in that Hummer...those seats look awful similar to the Scout seats...

The first thing I noticed when the vid switched to the Hummer interior.

 

[cvollers]

The problem with existing charging stations is lack of maintenance, especially when the weather gets cold. Nothing more frustrating than finding a station when low on charge and all the stalls are out of order.

 

[cvollers]

50% for $42? Hummer EV range is 315 miles. So that’s $.27/mile. If the ICE range (H2 at 32 gallons) is the same, the gas price per gallon would need to be $2.66 to break even. About 10 mpg. If Walmart drops the charge price just a little bit, it makes driving EV and using their network a no brainer.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

I look at it divide it by the free charging we get at the house.