Walmart's EV charging plans to start in D-FW

Walmart is planning to build its own EV fast-charging network, starting with stores in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Why it matters: Private investment in charging stations is critical to creating the nationwide network needed to spur more EV ownership.

Context: Many companies are installing fast-charging stations — which are less prevalent than the slower Level 2 chargers — to lure customers.

• RaceTrac installed EV chargers at five North Texas locations this year.

The big picture: EV adoption remains relatively low in the U.S.

• The federal government is trying to entice more people to go electric by offering one-time tax deductions and spending millions of dollars on new charging stations in D-FW and elsewhere.

Zoom in: Walmart plans to install fast-charging stations at 15 Dallas-Fort Worth stores by the spring, per the Star-Telegram .

• The list includes Walmarts in Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas, Irving and Plano.
• The company plans to install fast-charging stations at thousands of Walmart and Sam's Club stores "coast-to-coast" by 2030.

What they're saying: "With a store or club located within 10 miles of approximately 90% of Americans, we are uniquely positioned to deliver a convenient charging option that will help make EV ownership possible whether people live in rural, suburban or urban areas," the company said last year .

By the numbers: Fast chargers take around 20 minutes to an hour to charge a battery electric vehicle. Regular chargers take between four to 50 hours depending on the voltage, per the U.S. Department of Transportation .

Reality check: EV adoption in Texas is growing, but remains low compared to other types of vehicles.

Sign up for Axios Dallas for free.