Walmart EV Charging Network to Blanket US. First Charge Experience & Review

[K6CCC]

I can't think of anyone I know with an EV and No way to charge at home.

Lots of them around where I work - the 3rd largest city in Los Angeles county, Calif. The downtown area is almost all apartments, many of them old and do not have any charging at home. I have talked to quite a few people who are using the public chargers at the city hall complex (where I work). Many of them say that they can't change at home and are totally dependent on public charging. As a result, there is a ton of public chargers around town.

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[Caliber357x]

Drove to Indiana from WV to visit my old man last week; stopped at two different Meijer locations. The stores are a lot nicer than they were when I lived in the Midwest! They got my snack money, and a bathroom visit.

I wonder if Meijer has seen an uptick in traffic with the Tesla and EA chargers they have? I know I’ve gone inside to use the bathroom and grab a snack during a charge.

 

[Mashedtators]

Drove to Indiana from WV to visit my old man last week; stopped at two different Meijer locations. The stores are a lot nicer than they were when I lived in the Midwest! They got my snack money, and a bathroom visit.

I really like Meijer. Their produce is way better than the local grocer that was bought by Hy-Vee. The location nearest to me has level 2 Tesla chargers and Shell fast chargers as well. Overall, they have a great store and I try to give them my business as much as I can.

 

[hturnerfamily]

I'll echo what I've noticed, over time, about many EV owners who seem to use DC Fast Charging locations as their 'gas' stations, with no apparent 'at-home' charging options:

I think there are a lot more of these situations than we might initially expect.

Outside of large metro areas, it seems, yes, that DC Fast Charging locations are vacant except for the occasional 'traveling' EV... and, that's what you'd expect. That's what I use them for, as I have easy 'at-home' 240v 30amp charging for everyday, regular, usage... which is the vast MAJORITY of my charging.

But, near, and within, metro areas, I've noticed many times that DC Fast Charging locations, of all sorts, are largely used as 'everyday' charging for many EV owners - apparently those with no other 'at home' options.
When you see early morning, or late night, 'sleepers', you get the idea that they are not in any way 'traveling', but are using this location as their 'normal' everyday charging option. They are in no hurry, as the station has slowed to 35kw while trying to get the vehicle over the 90% mark... even as others may be waiting in the wings.

I've seen this in Orlando - EVGo, Tesla, and even the local OUC(OrlandoUtilityCommission)'s DC Fast Charging location downtown.
I've seen this near Atlanta, whether at EVGo, Tesla, Tesla 'magic dock' location, Charge point, or Walmart EA locations.

While we might think that apartment dwellers aren't the 'EV Type', you might be surprised. They may view stopping for hours at a DC Fast Charger simply another option to using gas stations, and probably much cheaper.

On several occasions, in these areas, I've mustered the need to gently 'knock' on a driver's window to let them know other folks are waiting to charge. Generally, this is met with an acknowledgement and gentle compliance, as I'm sure they aren't looking to hold up others, as well. I never come at them with an aggressive or aggravated stance - only one of a helpful nature. A compliment never hurts, either.

 

[Literider150]

it makes sense for any establishment that wants a 20-40 minute shopper - I have a local to me Walmart with 6 Tesla chargers on the edge of the lot (convenience station) in Dryden. It can be a good place to charge, pick up a few things for a trip and get going.

I like using my EV6 app to monitor my charging so I won't get any "idle charges". Warns me when it's nearly done and when it is done. Several times I had to speed up my shopping so I could get back out to the car. I love it.

 

[THX1138]

I had to use Walmart chargers on a trip in my Nissan leaf, maybe five years ago. The experience was horrible. The chargers were installed close to the store entrance and were always blocked by ice vehicles. I hope future installs are away from the store entrance.

 

[carys98]

I had to use Walmart chargers on a trip in my Nissan leaf, maybe five years ago. The experience was horrible. The chargers were installed close to the store entrance and were always blocked by ice vehicles. I hope future installs are away from the store entrance.

Those were Electrify America chargers. EA just rents space in Walmart parking lots. Now Walmart is rolling out their own chargers that they own and manage on their properties. So far there are only a couple of sites in Texas open. The equipment they are using is much better than EAs and they also will now have a vested interest in keeping them available and operating so it should be a big improvement over the existing EA/Walmart sites.

 

[hturnerfamily]

this is similar to Walmart's plan for gas pumps, for years: leave the 'work' to a contractor like MURPHY's, leasing them the space within/next to Walmart huge parking lots.... until, then starting to pump gas under your OWN Walmart umbrella...

EA will likely stay where they already have a lease, but those without them will start to get Walmart's own branded stations, which actually may be thru Electrify America. Who knows.

 

[Citizen0]

Like many of you I charge at home because the cost is 1/4 to 1/5 of what it costs to charge at public DC fast chargers.

BUT.

I make a few extended trips a year and my patterns have definitely changed. I no longer get supplies (snacks, sun screen, etc) before leaving on a trip. Instead I only throw in my bags knowing I'll have a quick 30-minute stop at a Walmart with an EA charger on the way. The timing to pick up supplies almost always matches the time I need to get close to 80% charge to reach my destination.

I would stop at any DC fast charger that sold the items I need for the trip, but at least in Georgia and where I travel the only retailer that fits that bill is Walmart.

As others have said, more charges is a positive thing. Simplifying charging for the general public (not the people who spend the time to read and comment on these forums) is only a good thing. Remember we're still in the "early adopter" phase of the shift to EV. More chargers means less anxiety and will hopefully accelerate EV adoption.

 

[Scorpio3d]

This Walmart has apparently installed their new chargers! I was there around six months ago (I think, may have been a year, I don’t really remember) and they had that area fenced off so I kind of wondered what they were doing, and I checked recently if any new Chargers were showing up in the cities around me and saw this:

There is also an EV GO station near there that’s been there for at least the last year or so.

Edit: Interesting, I was looking back at PlugShare and this article was referenced from July 2024!
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article290397569.html

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

Like many of you I charge at home because the cost is 1/4 to 1/5 of what it costs to charge at public DC fast chargers.

YUP!
but in my area the cost spread is a lot more: my overnight hydro rate is 2.8 cents/kWh and the local Tesla DCFC is 72 cents/kWh. Some other options are Shell and PetroCanada stations at 54cents or IVY stations which IIRC were 62cents. Not that I am knocking the cost of the fast chargers, those are expensive things to build and likely not very well used in rural north-western Ontario, I am just saying the spread makes the math very different for people who can overnight home charge vs only having public charging as a option.

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