Walmart to Add Thousands of Charging Stations
The retail giant Walmart/Sam's Club has announced plans to add more electric car charging ports to many of its locations around the country by 2030. The current 1,300 charging ports are in operation at nearly 280 locations. On average, participating locations will have about four EV charging stations, which Walmart plans to operate independently without an outside company. They are dropping their previous partners, EVgo and Electrify America, in order to work independently.
EVgo provides fast-charging stations for electric vehicles at over 800 locations across the US. The charging stations support various EV models and charging standards, including CHAdeMO, CCS, and Tesla. EVgo collaborates with automakers, fleet operators, and other partners to expand the EV charging infrastructure and promote the adoption of electric vehicles. Electrify America, on the other hand, was founded by Volkswagen as part of the company's settlement with US regulators over the "dieselgate" scandal. Electrify America aims to build a nationwide network of high-speed EV charging stations, focusing on both urban and rural areas. Both EVgo and Electrify America are addressing the need for a robust and convenient charging infrastructure, one of the main challenges facing electric vehicle adoption. By expanding the availability of charging stations and promoting public awareness of electric vehicles, these companies are helping to pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable transportation future.
Walmart’s recent success, driven by higher-income shoppers, might not last.