The Future of EV charging is… Walmart

[Jseis]

Makes sense. Costco sells lots of gas at competitive prices and Walmart has really big parking lots... And DCFC really aligns with “quick“ shopping, say less than 45 minutes.

However… EV charging away from home (for us) is 8X-9X our local kWh price. that’s no real deal from our perspective. Maybe we are spoiled at $.064/kWh. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

https://www.theautopian.com/walmart-is-the-future-of-ev-charging-in-america/

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[CD4TNF]

There's been a lot of excitement about Walmart getting into the charging network game.

It will be a great response to the "there's no chargers!"

"Have you gone to a Walmart? Charge there while you shop."

 

[Jseis]

I’m wondering if the “unstable” fuel prices and the soon to appear $30,000 BEVs may have something to do with this?. That plus proven battery long term health and lower maintenance? Insurance still sucks as do repair costs.

 

[RickLightning]

There are threads months ago.

And, Walmart announced this years ago.

 

[Jseis]

There are threads months ago.

And, Walmart announced this years ago.

Many on the forum don’t read everything all the time so… so what? Well, on a simple general search, been two years since any thing posted on this forum.

Walmart, is more than following through on their planning and clearly are playing to their best hand. And in the current Administration’s negative approach to electrification… , nice to see a major retailer forgoing ahead.

this quote speaks to their position... “expanding the way we serve customers“. Implication is that chargers mainstream in parking, not located in the back corner. Cheers!

“Our broad footprint positions us to make EV charging more accessible for communities while expanding the way we serve customers,” a Walmart spokesperson wrote via e-mail.

 

[Shmoe]

Many on the forum don’t read everything all the time so… so what? Well, on a simple general search, been two years since any thing posted on this forum.

Walmart, is more than following through on their planning and clearly are playing to their best hand. And in the current Administration’s negative approach to electrification… , nice to see a major retailer forgoing ahead.

this quote speaks to their position... “expanding the way we serve customers“. Implication is that chargers mainstream in parking, not located in the back corner. Cheers!

They've certainly hit a pace that dictates they're pretty serious... very scattershot on the locations so far, but very exciting to see.

I will say little details like putting the nacs cords on the "wrong side" of the chargers feels like someone who doesn't drive an EV is running their rollout, but still impressed.

 

[kubel]

All the good chargers kind of bypass Michigan. No Ionna, no walmart...

 

[badger42]

I'm really enjoying how many great options we have for stops on an road trip, compared to my first EV road trip in 2022 (in a CCS EV with no Tesla access)

Walmart is great on a road trip - clean bathroom, snacks, drinks, USB cables, and whatever you forgot to pack or just need last minute.

 

[Dahveed]

As easy as it is to hate on Walmart, they really have been stepping up their game lately. Our local store was recently remodeled and is pretty nice.

I don't need the chargers at my local Walmart, but anything else out there is awesome. Walmart is so ubiquitous across the nation, over 3500 supercenters, if each one added 4-8 chargers, that would be a huge boon.

 

[Jseis]

They've certainly hit a pace that dictates they're pretty serious... very scattershot on the locations so far, but very exciting to see.

I will say little details like putting the nacs cords on the "wrong side" of the chargers feels like someone who doesn't drive an EV is running their rollout, but still impressed.

I’ve used the WalMart EA chargers on and off for 5 years (the one in Missoula every time I drive to Great Falls!, Portland & Vancouver less so. ) and no issues at that Walmart other than they are always the longest walk. But if they are really doing it as a service, then up close to front. Or some other way to deal with past, present, future… cord technology, type, placement, etc. The EA’s take up a lot of space.

 

[B177y]

I’ve used the WalMart EA chargers on and off for 5 years (the one in Missoula every time I drive to Great Falls!, Portland & Vancouver less so. ) and no issues at that Walmart other than they are always the longest walk. But if they are really doing it as a service, then up close to front. Or some other way to deal with past, present, future… cord technology, type, placement, etc. The EA’s take up a lot of space.

I used to think that putting chargers far away from the main entrance of a store or shopping center was better in order to prevent ICEing. Now with so many chargers having their cords cut by tweakers looking for copper (seems rampant in urban WA ) makes me think putting them near the front or a well lit and busy part of the shopping center, preferably with real security is the better option.

 

[Jseis]

I agree and wonder if charging cables will evolve into an articulated armored metal arm
thingy.

 

[B177y]

I agree and wonder if charging cables will evolve into an articulated armored metal arm
thingy.

I topped off my Bolt near Swedish hospital in Seattle a few months ago at an EA and all of the cables did have a cut resistant sheath over them. Made the cables even more unruly than normal. Best I can describe is that it was some sort of kevlar-like chainmail cover.

 

[DavidS]

I’ve used the WalMart EA chargers on and off for 5 years (the one in Missoula every time I drive to Great Falls!, Portland & Vancouver less so. ) and no issues at that Walmart other than they are always the longest walk. But if they are really doing it as a service, then up close to front. Or some other way to deal with past, present, future… cord technology, type, placement, etc. The EA’s take up a lot of space.

The new Walmart chargers aren’t EA but instead owned by Walmart and are a mixture of Alpitronic and ABB.
https://evchargingstations.com/chargingnews/walmart-charging-network-750/

 

[SLTX]

You'd think it'll make sense if Costco does it since time in Costco is longer than at a Walmart. That being said, there's a study that said 90% of the population lives 10 minutes from a Walmart.
Range anxiety? What range anxiety?

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