By Michael Elkins
Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) announced Thursday that the American retailer plans to build their own EV fast-charging network at thousands of Walmart and Sam's Club locations across the country by 2030. This would be in addition to the almost 1,300 EV fast-charging stations already available at more than 280 U.S. facilities.
Vishal Kapadia, Senior Vice President of Energy Transformation at Walmart, wrote in the announcement, "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."
This plan marks Walmart's latest investment in its efforts to transform their business and product supply chains to be more regenerative, in this case helping reduce emissions and increase efficiencies for customers.
"The way vehicle ownership looks is changing fast, and so is our business," writes Kapadia. "Today, we are as known for convenience as we are for everyday low cost. We are committed to providing customers, members, associates, suppliers and our communities at large with the services they need and want, in a way that fits their lifestyle – making EV ownership easy and simple is no exception."
Shares of WMT are up 0.11% in mid-day trading on Thursday.