Walmart is planning to add electric vehicle charging stations to thousands of U.S. stores by 2030, the company announced.
The expansion will include Walmart and Sam’s Club locations across the country, with the company planning to own and operate the EV charging stations in its national network. The company did not provide further details on investments. Walmart currently has nearly 1,300 EV stations in operation at 280 of its locations.
According to Reuters, the company expects an average of four chargers to be installed at each participating store. Walmart is currently in the process of identifying suppliers, having worked with EV charger providers EVgo and Electrify America in the past. The company has grown its network substantially over the last two years.
Vishal Kapadia, senior vice president of energy transformation, said in a statement that “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.” The planned expansion is expected to make EV ownership more reliable, with Walmart’s more than 4,700 stores and 600 Sam’s Clubs located within 10 miles of around 90% of Americans, according to the company.
The Biden administration recently announced an investment of over $7.5 billion to launch a national charging network, particularly in lower-income and rural communities. This move is likely to boost EV sales, which accounted for 7% of new U.S. vehicle registrations in January.
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