Walmart EV Charging Network - Finally Under Construction!

[E365]

After teasing their own massive EV charging network almost 2 years ago, Walmart has now started installing 400kW Alpitronic Hyperchargers in the Dallas area. Sounds like Phoenix area is next.

“Walmart plans to install new electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations at thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations across the country”

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

This guy lives near Bentonville and has a new channel tracking the new Walmart charging network.

 

[Vercingetorix]

This is super smart. Nothing to do but shop at Walmart while the car charges.

 

[Torrid]

Many have Electrify America chargers currently. It would make sense for them to have their own as much as Walmart does. Smart move.

 

[Trav]

It seems like a way they want to try to boost their customer base. The sad part is just going from what I see the average wallys shopper is not an ev owner.

 

[mclasser]

My local Walmart has had Electrify America stations for the past couple of years.

 

[Torrid]

It seems like a way they want to try to boost their customer base. The sad part is just going from what I see the average wallys shopper is not an ev owner.

No they aren't but I'm sure they're seeing the traffic to Electrify America locations on their properties and figure they can make a few more bucks off of these people. Whether that's a correct thought that's up for interpretation. I'm sure they'll find out soon enough. Checking Walmart's website they show that I can locate two locations that are either active or about to go active.

 

[Trav]

Up here the cables wont be on them very long. Very sad.

 

[alarmguy]

The most successful retail chain in the world. Walmart knows it’s customer base.
It’s silly to say an electric car chargers would not be a customer of Walmart.

Call me crazy but in this forum, I keep hearing about how cheap it is to run electric cars. So that would sound like a significant portion of the population looks to save money in Walmart too.

 

[dogememe]

The most successful retail chain in the world. Walmart knows it’s customer base.
It’s silly to say an electric car chargers would not be a customer of Walmart.

Call me crazy but in this forum, I keep hearing about how cheap it is to run electric cars. So that would sound like a significant portion of the population looks to save money in Walmart too.

Yeah I think it’s insane that people think Walmart shoppers and EV drivers have no overlap.

If you’re on a road trip or using a public DC fast charger that’s on a businesses property, if the business is open, it’s likely you’ll go in and buy something.

If it’s their own chargers that run through their own app, they can also tie it in to their Walmart subscription thing. Where you get a discount for charging if you’re a member. That would get more people on the subscriptions and then those people would be MORE likely to shop at Walmart instead of wherever they usually shop that doesn’t have charging. Which is a value add for them too. Simply having an Electrify America station in their parking lot doesn’t give them the same benefit.

 

[Torrid]

The most successful retail chain in the world. Walmart knows it’s customer base.
It’s silly to say an electric car chargers would not be a customer of Walmart.

Call me crazy but in this forum, I keep hearing about how cheap it is to run electric cars. So that would sound like a significant portion of the population looks to save money in Walmart too.

I could see that. The only negative I could see to the money saving angle is that EV buyers will avoid public charging due to cost when possible.

That said when I was in a hotel for 3 weeks I would choose Target and HyVee when I needed to shop and charge at the same time because they both had Superchargers in their parking lots. It's another bonus to get someone in the door to shop.

 

[dogememe]

I could see that. The only negative I could see to the money saving angle is that EV buyers will avoid public charging due to cost when possible.

That said when I was in a hotel for 3 weeks I would choose Target and HyVee when I needed to shop and charge at the same time because they both had Superchargers in their parking lots. It's another bonus to get someone in the door to shop.

Yep, when it’s a competitive market, a business having good EV chargers conveniently located for their customers can be a real differentiating factor.

 

[Torrid]

Yep, when it’s a competitive market, a business having good EV chargers conveniently located for their customers can be a real differentiating factor.

For sure. It definitely shaped my shopping habits over the last month and made the time charging non existent.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Don’t forget bathrooms. The Walmart in Cornelius Or has one of the nicest public bathrooms I have been in.

 

[E365]

I’d guess they’ll bundle cheaper charging fees into their Walmart+ membership program. Just like buying a Tesla Charging or Electrify America Pass+ membership.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Shopping center parking lots around here have had chargers for years. Hospitals and clinics, you name it.
Wally World will have beater Civics and Corollas to drop dead gorgeous German cars in their lots. They are a little late to the charger installations, but they have been there for awhile now.

Of course I charge at home so I don't really pay attention.

 

[andrew_j]

It seems like a way they want to try to boost their customer base. The sad part is just going from what I see the average wallys shopper is not an ev owner.

I think idea is not to attract existing shopping base , instead a new customer base that tend to have higher expendable income.

 

[The Critic]

I think idea is not to attract existing shopping base , instead a new customer base that tend to have higher expendable income.

And EV customers with higher expendable incomes tend to charge at home.

I think this is going to attract the $199/mo EV lease customers who are dipping their toes into the EV pond because their Nissan Altima died.

 

[ME_Andy]

A lot of people spend the night in Walmart parking lots. They allow it. I think charging overnight at Walmart is a super smart idea if you're on a roadtrip.

 

[JeffKeryk]

And EV customers with higher expendable incomes tend to charge at home.

I think this is going to attract the $199/mo EV lease customers who are dipping their toes into the EV pond because their Nissan Altima died.

And the used Tesla market, which is continuing to grow. You can steal an older Model 3 right now, especially with the new Highland.

 

[Gyro Gearloose]

Our Walmart got some of the chargers installed for Dieselgate repentance. I've seen two or 3 cars over several years. One was from out of state. They are installed on the garden center end of the store out beyond the mulch pallets. Not very conducive to charge and shop.