Walmart EV Charging Network to Blanket US. First charge experience & review.

[MonkeyNutz]

This was announced by Walmart in 2023.

They unveiled their chargers and installed at a couple stores, but never formally announced their plans. I think it was kinda obvious this is where it would lead. Looks like they're planning to roll it out quickly.

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[MetalCord]

You want the chargers to be in corners of the parking lot. You put chargers up front in prime locations and people ICE them way more often.

We are there to charge, not get better parking than handicap spots.

In the interview, the rep addresses concerns about security and there being direct line of sight to the front of the store. They plan to have charging stations in front of the store but 200 feet away. This is supposed to balance the convenience of walking to the store (not TOO far) without incentivizing ICE'ing as the prime parking spots will still be available.

 

[RickMachE]

They unveiled their chargers and installed at a couple stores, but never formally announced their plans. I think it was kinda obvious this is where it would lead. Looks like they're planning to roll it out quickly.

https://corporate.walmart.com/news/...n-to-expand-electric-vehicle-charging-network

In April 2023, they announced they would install new EV chargers at "thousands of Walmart and Sam's Club locations across the country".




Leading the Charge: Walmart Announces Plan To Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Network
Walmart plans to install new electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations at thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations across the country
By Vishal Kapadia, Senior Vice President, Energy Transformation
April 6, 2023
2 Min. Read
Business

As our customers and members continue to look for ways to save money and live better, I am excited to announce our plans at Walmart and Sam’s Club in the U.S. to make electric vehicle (EV) ownership more accessible, reliable, convenient and affordable for them across the country. By 2030, we intend to build our own EV fast-charging network at thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations coast-to-coast. This would be in addition to the almost 1,300 EV fast-charging stations we already have available at more than 280 U.S. facilities.
With a store or club located within 10 miles of approximately 90% of Americans, we are uniquely positioned to deliver a convenient charging option that will help make EV ownership possible whether people live in rural, suburban or urban areas. Our goal is to meet the needs of customers and members where they live and open the road to those driving across the country. 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.

What’s more, with our chargers located on site with our Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and Sam’s Clubs, we can offer customers and members the convenience of being able to pick up essentials for their families or grab a bite to eat while they charge. And in line with our purpose, we aim to offer Every Day Low Price charging – helping ease transportation costs, still the second highest household cost for much of our country.

At the same time, as more drivers transition to EVs, our network growth will help expand domestic EV charging capacity across states. We see our commitment today as a natural extension of our work to help customers and members live better, easier and more sustainable lives – a big win for busy families and drivers everywhere, our country and the planet.
This plan marks the latest investment in our efforts to transform our business and product supply chains to be more regenerative, in this case helping reduce emissions and increase efficiencies for customers. For example, we announced tests across our supply chain vehicle and fuel classes toward our goal of achieving zero emissions by 2040. And as of last year, many of our W+ customers have already been receiving their deliveries via electric vehicles.
The way vehicle ownership looks is changing fast, and so is our business. Today, we are as known for convenience as we are for Every Day Low Price. 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.

 

[MonkeyNutz]

Well, OK then... I guess I missed the press release.

 

[NorthlandPhil]

Interesting... I guess the "news" here is that Walmart is continuing on that plan. Maybe taking it to the next level.

 

[RickMachE]

Interesting... I guess the "news" here is that Walmart is continuing on that plan. Maybe taking it to the next level.

Or, there isn't any news here, just an exclusive April 2025 interview being promoted by a guy who is very, very good at promotion.

I've watched a few of Tom's videos, and they're very well done. But, like most Youtubers looking to maximize ad revenue, it takes 30 or 45 minutes to relate what could be done in 60 or 120 seconds. In general, I don't watch videos or listen to podcasts for that reason.

Walmart is simply continuing to do what they announced 2 years ago.

There's a guy on Facebook that puts up videos every time Ionna opens a new location, like it's a miracle, not a company executing exactly what they planned to execute.

It's good that Walmart, Ionna, Pilot Flying J and others are implementing what they said the would implement in the face of negative pressure from the federal government. Kudos to them all.

 

[stoopid]

Potentially a game changer. The story here is "owned and operated" by the world's largest retailer. This isn't a second party renting parking lot space. It's the store itself. Which means they will care about more than just how much you spend on EV charging, they will care about how many EV charging customers come into the store and how much they spend.

It means Walmart believes that EV charging is a real thing with real demand and they are committed to bringing it to people at a good competitive price.

I see this as good news.

I'm not sure I completely agree with others that it ensures quality and uptime of the chargers they provide, that might depend largely on the demographics of a specific store and availability of local techs to perform work in a timely manner (factors outside of who operates the charging stations).

Although I rarely shop at Walmart, if on a road trip I'd much rather spend 15-30 minutes there than at a gas station.

 

[MellowJohnny]

You want the chargers to be in corners of the parking lot. You put chargers up front in prime locations and people ICE them way more often.

We are there to charge, not get better parking than handicap spots.

Location is most often determined by cost - as close to the power source as possible. Trenching through the parking lot is expensive, so they usually avoid it when they can.

 

[NorthlandPhil]

Or, there isn't any news here, just an exclusive April 2025 interview being promoted by a guy who is very, very good at promotion.

Answers my question about why a youtuber gets an exclusive "big news" story. (What news?) I do still think it's significant, though, if it pans out. EVs really have been a bit on the pricey side and there's a lingering perspective of that. That's changing, of course. Charging stations at Walmart I think will help change that perspective. Let's see where it's at in 2030.

I do like Tom's videos. But, yeah, I wish he'd just get to the point. And stop repeating the same point over and over. They could easily be 1/3 in length.

 

[NorthlandPhil]

I see this as good news.

I'm not sure I completely agree with others that it ensures quality and uptime of the chargers they provide, that might depend largely on the demographics of a specific store and availability of local techs to perform work in a timely manner (factors outside of who operates the charging stations).

Although I rarely shop at Walmart, if on a road trip I'd much rather spend 15-30 minutes there than at a gas station.

Up until about 5 months ago when I got an EV, I bought gas very regularly at Costco. We'd do our shopping and then fill up on the way out. I've filled up once since then.

As it is, I would not charge at Walmart (or Costco) because charging in my garage is cheaper and more convenient. But if we were to move to an apartment, it could become a very realistic possibility. I wonder if that's the market Walmart is thinking about here and not so much the long distance travelers. Why else would it matter that there's a store within 10 miles of your home? Having an EV charger within 10 miles that's convenient and affordable could make all the difference for those without access to home chargers. And, hey, your almost out of Cheetos anyway...

 

[stoopid]

Up until about 5 months ago when I got an EV, I bought gas very regularly at Costco. We'd do our shopping and then fill up on the way out. I've filled up once since then.

As it is, I would not charge at Walmart (or Costco) because charging in my garage is cheaper and more convenient. But if we were to move to an apartment, it could become a very realistic possibility. I wonder if that's the market Walmart is thinking about here and not so much the long distance travelers. Why else would it matter that there's a store within 10 miles of your home? Having an EV charger within 10 miles that's convenient and affordable could make all the difference for those without access to home chargers. And, hey, your almost out of Cheetos anyway...

There's Walmarts everywhere, so it benefits EV owners who don't own their home or don't live where there's convenient Level 2 (and who might also want to shop at Walmart, anyway), in addition to long distance travelers.

 

[Lord Hamlet]

I have gone this long without needing the Walmart app, no reason to start now.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[enhost]

I wonder what that means for EA since a lot of EA sites are at Walmarts.

Given the reliability (or lack of thereof)of the EA network, hopefully they will step up their game or become extinct.

 

[bbulkow]

Or, there isn't any news here, just an exclusive April 2025 interview being promoted by a guy who is very, very good at promotion.

I've watched a few of Tom's videos, and they're very well done. But, like most Youtubers looking to maximize ad revenue, it takes 30 or 45 minutes to relate what could be done in 60 or 120 seconds. In general, I don't watch videos or listen to podcasts for that reason.

Walmart is simply continuing to do what they announced 2 years ago.

There's a guy on Facebook that puts up videos every time Ionna opens a new location, like it's a miracle, not a company executing exactly what they planned to execute.

It's good that Walmart, Ionna, Pilot Flying J and others are implementing what they said the would implement in the face of negative pressure from the federal government. Kudos to them all.

Well put.

I do find it a bit .... For walmart to say "leading the charge". In the two years between 2023 and 2025 they installed two stations with maybe 20 stalls? GAME CHANGER???

I would have to look to what the other networks installed, but i promise it was more. I got a pretty spanky 24 stall supercharger near ish.

The two false notes in the 2025 update were "no charger app installed, have to use Walmart app", and 24 hour amenities, as my Walmart is not 24 hours. Otherwise, hooraa, sure, moar chargers!

My analysis, Walmart brand affiliation does not overlap much with EVs. Idk why Walmart would do this, except press releases. Which they can do installing minimal chargers.

 

[RickMachE]

Good point on the hours. A quick search shows none are 24hrs...

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