Big-box retailer Walmart has expanded beyond homewares and groceries to offer services, including those for cars. You can have lunch, get your hair done, have an eye exam, fill out a prescription, and have your vehicle’s tires replaced or serviced at almost any Walmart store. And now you can charge your electric vehicle too.
Walmart’s automotive services and gas stations aren’t new. Travelers find refuge when they see the familiar Starburst logo along the highway. But more recently, the retail giant’s partnership with Electrify America means you can juice up your EV in Walmart parking lots. So is the service a good deal? How much does it cost to charge an electric car at Walmart?
Find charging stations for electric vehicles in selected parking lots
An electric vehicle plugged into an electric vehicle charging station in a Walmart parking lot | Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images
As more Americans explore electric vehicle ownership, the need for improved charging station infrastructure has grown. Walmart recognized this trend a few years ago and partnered with Electrify America to bring more charging options to a growing number of EV drivers.
Walmart’s official statement in 2019 said it would install a new electric vehicle charging station at the retailer’s locations every three days. And the fast-growing partnership means you’ve probably visited a charging station store before. If your local Walmart doesn’t already have electric vehicle charging stations, chances are they are in the works. But how much does it cost to charge an electric car at Walmart?
Prices of Walmart EV charging stations
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You can charge your EV or PHEV whether you shop at Walmart or not. Follow these four steps:
You can pay directly through the app or get discounts with a subscription to Electrify America’s Pass+ option. Pass members and guests pay 43 cents per kWh. But with a Pass+ membership, which costs $4 a month, you’re paying 31 cents per kWh, according to Electrify America. If you drive frequently, the Pass+ membership more than pays for itself.
Additional charges may apply if you leave your vehicle plugged in after it is fully charged. Idle charges of 40 cents per minute take effect after a 10-minute grace period. DC charging rates vary slightly, with Pass members and guests paying 16 cents per minute for 90 kW and 32 cents per minute for 350 kW. Pass+ members get 12 cents per minute for 90kW charging and 24 cents per minute for 350kW charging.
How long does it take to charge an electric vehicle at Walmart?
In Chantilly, VA, location 200222 has been updated at Walmart. This site has four chargers; three 350 kW Hyper Fast chargers, one 50 kW CHAdeMO and one 150 kW Ultra Fast charger.
The CHAdeMo charger has not received the next generation charger. 2/4 pic.twitter.com/n88LhFa9aI— Electrify America (@ElectrifyAm) September 14, 2022
Expect an 80% charge in about 15 to 30 minutes, according to Home Battery Bank. And most EV charging stations in Walmart lots do so at 150kW and 350kW charge rates. DC fast chargers offer Tier 3 charging speeds, most of which add eight to 20 miles of charge for every minute of fast charging.
Pricing in most states is still based on time. The following countries use time-based billing: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.
However, many are switching to charging per kilowatt hour. These states have switched to kWh-based billing methods for EV charging: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York , North Carolina, Ohio, Utah, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.
Check the Electrify America map to find a Walmart EV charging station near you or on your itinerary. And explore your potential 25% savings with Pass+ membership if you plan to top up frequently.
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