Source: Walmart
US retailer Walmart has announced that it will roll out fast charging stations across thousands of locations in the United States. The country’s largest retailer[i] (which has an annual revenue of $600 billion) is hoping to provide the equivalent of four EV fast-charging stations per location across thousands of Walmart stores and Sam’s Club outlets currently in operation. This planned expansion would be in addition to almost 1,300 EV fast-charging stations already available at more than 280 Walmart facilities. It would mark a step-change for the company, seeing a transition from the third-party chargers currently installed on Walmart properties to owner-operated devices instead.
In a recent press release, Vishal Kapadia, Senior Vice President, Energy Transformation said:
“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.”[ii]
Notably, in the US in 2021, transportation represented the second largest category for household expenditure, behind housing. Through its new fast-charging programme, Walmart hopes to offer ‘Every Day Low Price’ charging to alleviate private transport costs for consumers. According to GreenBiz, roughly 70 per cent of Walmart’s target sites for new chargers are in low and moderate-income communities.[iii]
As we move closer towards the deadlines placed on the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles, the switch to electric forms of transport is becoming increasingly important. However, uptake still falls well below what is required. Whilst the cost of a new vehicle is a major barrier, the availability of EV charging facilities is also a crucial hurdle in the push to increase the adoption of EVs. Issues and concerns for prospective buyers include the cost of installing an off-road charger (if possible for the homeowner to do so), the availability of on-street charging, the availability of EV chargers in rural locations, charging times, and the cost of charging the vehicle. A further constraint is so-termed ‘range anxiety’, where vehicle owners are restricted in how far they are willing to travel by the range of their EV’s battery, especially in instances where nationwide EV charging infrastructure remains spotty.
This is where a company such as Walmart comes into play; the retailer estimates that it currently has a store or club located within 10 miles of approximately 90% of Americans, meaning it is “uniquely positioned to deliver a convenient charging option that will help make EV ownership possible whether people live in rural, suburban or urban areas.”[iv]
Whilst it may not replace localised charging or home charging, the delivery of a nation-wide network will help alleviate some of the concerns individuals have regarding the range of EV vehicles. Private investment by retailers can work in tandem with public sector improvements to solve the issue of EV charging blackspots. As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the US government last year confirmed it is committing $7.5 billion to electric vehicle charging, aiming to help build a national network of 500,000 electric vehicle chargers. The plan is to deploy these chargers along highway corridors to facilitate long-distance travel as well as local transportation[v].
[i] 10 Biggest Retail Companies (investopedia.com)
[ii] Leading the Charge: Walmart Announces Plan To Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Network
[iii] Inside Walmart’s plan for a nationwide fast-charging network | GreenBiz
[iv] Leading the Charge: Walmart Announces Plan To Expand Electric Vehicle Charging Network
[v] BUILDING-A-BETTER-AMERICA-V2.pdf (whitehouse.gov)
Lauren has extensive experience as an analyst and market researcher in the digital technology and travel sectors. She has a background in researching and forecasting emerging technologies, with a particular passion for the Videogames and eSports industries. She joined the Critical Information Group as Head of Reports and Market Research at GRC World Forums, and leads the content and data research team at the Zero Carbon Academy. “What drew me to the academy is the opportunity to add content and commentary around sustainability across a wealth of industries and sectors.”
.jpg)
