Wal-Mart to launch charging network

[WeighingGravity]

This is pretty huge news and great for EVs in general imo.

 

[Sam6062]

They will make money if they use the high speed charging stations.

 

[illopp00]

All the walmarts by me have 4 x 350KW EA chargers and Tesla already, I wonder what will make this better unless Walmart can offer you better prices along with their loyalty stuff.

 

[Tim-in-CA]

All the walmarts by me have 4 x 350KW EA chargers and Tesla already, I wonder what will make this better unless Walmart can offer you better prices along with their loyalty stuff.

They should definitely tie a discount to it if you are a WM+ customer. Will help drive traffic to both chargers and store. Hopefully it will be cheaper than the ridiculous EA, EVGo, etc rates.

 

[DeaneG]

All the walmarts by me have 4 x 350KW EA chargers and Tesla already, I wonder what will make this better unless Walmart can offer you better prices along with their loyalty stuff.

Many more stalls per location than EA
Higher power, more reliable charging hardware (typically 8 x 400kW, well proven in Europe)
Walmart personnel trained to help people with common charging issues

 

[knewman]

Hopefully Walmart will be a better steward than EA. Nearly all the EA stations I've used have been at Walmart supercenter locations, and typically 1/3 of the stalls are out of service.

 

[cgm9999]

Walmart personnel trained to help people with common charging issues

 

[DeaneG]

Specifically, how to load the Walmart app on your phone, put in a credit card, etc.

 

[westofboston]

Hopefully Walmart will be a better steward than EA. Nearly all the EA stations I've used have been at Walmart supercenter locations, and typically 1/3 of the stalls are out of service.

I have had good luck at Walmart and EA at least with my Mach-E (haven’t done much road-tripping with the Lucid yet) over the past 3 years

 

[98point1]

You’d be surprised how many new EV owners have no idea how to charge their first time at a DCFC. The Walmart employees can handle the very simple things like showing them how to do it, put in trouble tickets for down stations (which is HUGE bc Walmart will now be responsible for the stations, instead of telling people call them EA folks. They will have incentive to get the stations repaired ASAP as they now have skin in the game) and potentially handle conflicts of queueing. I dont think anyone expects them to actually repair or service the machines any more than a gas station attendant.