- By 2030, Walmart intends to have a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging stations installed at thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club sites.
- With 280 stores across the country, the retailer already has about 1,300 fast-charging stations.
- No matter where they live—in the country, the suburbs, or the city—the charging stations will help more people own EVs.
- The network of chargers is a part of Walmart’s ongoing efforts to become more environmentally friendly, which include deploying electric cars for delivery and a target of having zero emissions by 2040.
- Several national franchises are also setting up their own EV charging station networks, like 7-Eleven and Subway.
With 280 stores across the country, the retailer already has about 1,300 fast-charging stations. In 20 different countries, Walmart presently runs more than 10,000 stores. By 2030, Walmart Inc. claimed it intended to install a nationwide network of electric vehicle charging stations at tens of thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club sites.
According to Vishal Kapadia, senior vice president, Energy Transformation, Walmart (NYSE: WMT) is in a unique position to provide a practical charging option that will help make EV ownership possible for more people, whether they live in rural, suburban, or urban areas, because of its extensive footprint.
In a blog post for the business, Kapadia stated, “Our goal is to address the requirements of customers and members where they live and open the road to those going across the country.” For drivers who have been hesitant to buy an EV out of concern that they won’t be able to find a charger, having easy access to on-the-go charging is a game-changer. He claimed that Walmart’s continued efforts to become more environmentally friendly include deploying electric cars for delivery and setting a target of zero emissions by 2040. This endeavor includes the charger network.
According to Kapadia, many Walmart+ subscribers began receiving their deliveries by electric cars as of the previous year. Walmart+ is the company’s premium paid delivery service. Walmart and Arkansas-based Canoo (Nasdaq: GOEV) signed a contract in August 2022 for Walmart to acquire 4,500 all-electric delivery cars, with an option to buy up to 10,000 vehicles overall.
EV charging station networks are also being adopted by other national chains. The Irving, Texas-based 7-Eleven announced plans to use 7Charge, which is already present at a number of sites in Florida, Texas, Colorado, and California, to create one of the largest and most suitable fast-charging networks for electric vehicles in North America Subway, a sandwich chain with headquarters in Milford, Connecticut, is also working with GenZ EV Solutions to provide charging “oases” for electric vehicles. These locations will feature several plugs, picnic tables, Wi-Fi, restrooms, green space, and playgrounds. The firm said that, as part of a multi-year initiative, select, new, or recently renovated restaurants around the U.S. will prototype smaller-format, quick EV charging stations beginning in 2023.
According to Jose Valls, CEO of GenZ EV Solutions, “Equitable access to charging is critical for the adoption of EVs in the future and Subway’s size will play a key part in democratizing charging infrastructure for millions of Americans.” “We are continuing to make significant advancements in developing the EV infrastructure of tomorrow by combining our technology and know-how with Red E Charging’s strategic site selection and Subway’s network of restaurants across the U.S.,” says the company.
