Retail giant Walmart already offers EV charging at many of its stores, but it’s in the process of rolling out its own branded charging network, and it’s moving quickly. The latest deployment to be announced: ABB e-mobility is installing A400 All-in-One DC fast chargers at seven Walmart locations in the metropolitan Phoenix area.
Nine Walmart locations with a total of 38 ABB e-mobility A400 chargers are slated to come online in the coming months.
There are over 5,200 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores across the US, and the company estimates that 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart location. Walmart’s market research indicates that offering EV charging will entice customers to visit its stores more often, and spend more time in the store on each visit. Walmart customers can start charging sessions directly through the Walmart app.
“As part of Walmart’s commitment to helping customers save money and live better, we’re excited to bring a retail-integrated EV charging experience to the communities we serve,” said Adam Happel, GM Walmart EV Charging. “We’re building a convenient and reliable network that gives our customers the ability to charge their EVs quickly and affordably without having to change their daily shopping routines.”
The ABB e-mobility A400 All-in-One chargers feature dual CCS and NACS connectors, and can each deliver up to 400 kilowatts of power—200 kW to two vehicles at once or the full 400 kW to a single car. The A400 includes a 32-inch configurable display for brand integration, promotions and advertising, and features a modular architecture designed to facilitate future expansion and/or upgrades. ABB’s ReliaGear switchboard will enable Walmart to add energy resources such as battery energy storage solutions.
“Launching in the Phoenix metro area is the first step in what will become the most ambitious retail charging rollout in the United States,” said Brandt Hastings, President North America, ABB e-mobility.
Source: ABB e-mobility
