NEW YORK – Walmart has just jumped right into the world of electric cars, but no, it is not going to compete against Toyota and the others, instead they have announced that they are going to install thousands of electric chargers in the parking lots of their Walmart and Sam’s Club stores.
The country’s largest retailer wants to be the pioneer in setting up fast chargers in the parking lots of its stores, and intends to do it before 2030, that is why they have already started. Sustainability and… something more, don’t you think? They want people to come closer for their shopping and, between one thing and another, end up filling the cart! Innovation does not have to be separate from shopping and new customers, reports Union Rayo.
And pay attention, because they promise that their stations will be able to charge hundreds of miles of range in less than half an hour, and at a much lower price than other options. That means Walmart is going to be the best friend of drivers and the worst enemy of other brands! Charging the car and doing the shopping, all for less money and at the same time fighting pollution, is there a better plan?
Walmart’s new strategy
For now, Walmart has more than 5,200 stores across the country, that means if we look at it on a map, at least 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of one of its locations. So, taking advantage of this network, their plan becomes much more ambitious with the thousands of electric chargers they want to have available before the decade ends.
The process will be super easy, scan the charger code with the Walmart app itself, and charge the car! Fast, intuitive, and adapted to the digital era.
Cheap charging, less pollution
A gasoline car (a common one) emits more than five tons of pollutants per year. With an electric car, that disappears. That is why Walmart wants to emphasize that this step goes beyond business and is part of its commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable model.
And the wallet notices it too. Electric car owners spend up to 60% less on energy than those who use gasoline. In the first tests, charging at Walmart was about 42 cents per kilowatt-hour, which is a lower price than many private stations.
Total compatibility: plugs for everyone
According to Walmart, it does not matter what electric car you have. The chargers at their stations will be ready both for the CCS1 standard (used by most brands that are not Tesla), and for the NACS connector (popularized by Tesla and increasingly used by more manufacturers). So it does not matter if you drive a Ford, a Hyundai or a Tesla: you will be able to plug it in without any problem.
Charging and changing the model
Walmart is not only going to install chargers, what they are doing is standing right in the middle of the transportation transformation and saying: “here we are.” They want charging the car to become something everyday, easy and accessible for everyone. Going shopping, plugging in the car, and leaving with the bags… and the battery full. And here we all win, them on their side, the drivers on another… And the rest of the citizens win by emitting less pollutants.
And as if that were not enough, with this charger network they are stepping into a field where others like Ikea or some gas stations that have started to reinvent themselves are already present. Walmart, as always, is going to compete big. For now, all we can do is wish them luck and wait to see how these years develop with this plan!
