Walmart Inc. has announced plans to increase the number of electric-vehicle (EV) charging stations at its stores to several thousand by 2030, as part of a broader US effort to facilitate the shift away from fossil-fueled cars. Vishal Kapadia, Walmart's senior vice president of energy transformation, said in a statement on Thursday that the expansion would supplement the retailer's existing network of 1,300 fast-charging stations across 280 locations.
Although Walmart has not revealed the exact number of charging stations to be built, the company has approximately 4,700 stores in the US and 600 Sam's Club locations. According to Walmart, about 90% of the US population lives within ten miles of one of its stores. Kapadia said that Walmart is ideally situated to offer charging stations in rural, suburban, and urban areas, and the company's goal is to provide customers and members with the infrastructure they need while on the road.
The move comes as President Joe Biden pushes to establish a nationwide charging network to encourage the adoption of EVs. Walmart's plan enables the company to enhance its environmental credentials while attracting EV owners to shop at its stores while charging their vehicles. Other retailers, such as Kroger, are also adding chargers in a bid to entice customers to remain in-store while their vehicles charge outside.