Walmart and Sam’s Club are taking a major step towards making electric vehicle (EV) ownership more accessible with the announcement that they plan to install thousands of fast-charging stations at their locations nationwide. According to Vishal Kapadia, Senior Vice President of Energy Transformation at Walmart, “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.”
This move comes as electric vehicles become increasingly popular across the country. The U.S. Department of Energy reported that between 2020 and 2021 Pennsylvania saw a 53 percent increase in electric vehicles registered (17,530 to 26,770). In order to meet this growing demand for charging stations, Walmart announced this week that it is investing heavily in its EV infrastructure by installing more charging ports and offering discounts on certain charging plans.
This move will provide customers with an opportunity to conveniently refuel while they shop or dine in-store and eliminates the need for extra stops or round trips. More importantly, Walmart states that it is committed to offering affordable EV charging prices so that these vehicles remain accessible to everyone as a cost-effective alternative to traditional transportation options. In supporting these services, it’s the company’s ultimate hope that more individuals will be able to save money on their transportation costs and take advantage of greener methods of getting from point A to point B.
Moreover, as more drivers transition to EVs, Walmart’s 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,” said Kapadia.
Walmart’s commitment to providing thousands of EV fast-charging stations is seen by many in the industry as a major milestone for electric vehicle adoption in America and shows how much progress has been made over the last few years toward reducing America’s carbon footprint while also improving convenience those who use EVs every day.
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