Walmart Chargers Coming to CA as EV Charging Rewards Grow Fast

Walmart is accelerating the rollout of its electric vehicle charging network, expanding access to fast charging at stores across the United States and giving customers another reason to visit its retail locations. On July 8, 2026, The Los Angeles Times reported that California is the next state where the company is expanding its EV charging.

The retailer’s growing charging network is expected to help address gaps in EV infrastructure, particularly in regions where public charging options remain limited. With more than 5,000 stores nationwide, including hundreds in California, Walmart is uniquely positioned to support EV adoption. The company notes that more than 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart location, making its stores convenient destinations for charging while shopping.

To encourage usage, Walmart is offering a discount to members of its Walmart Plus subscription program. Members receive 10% off the average charging rate of $0.46 per kilowatt-hour at Walmart-operated charging stations.

Walmart chargers are currently available at more than 75 locations across 17 states. Texas leads the network in the number of charging sites, followed by Florida and Arizona. According to Walmart Director of Energy Policy Matthew Nelson, the company is preparing to significantly expand its footprint. In a recent LinkedIn post, Nelson said the charging network will soon operate in 29 states, including California.

“We are delivering on the promise of affordable, reliable and convenient charging,” Nelson wrote.

California is among the next markets scheduled to receive Walmart charging stations. The company’s website indicates that six locations are planned for the state, although an exact installation timeline has not yet been announced. New charging sites are slated for Walmart stores in Antelope, Brea, Fresno, Stockton, Suisun City, and Vallejo.

According to Walmart spokesperson Kelsey Bohl, most California locations will feature between eight and 16 DC fast-charging stalls. The expansion builds on Walmart’s April 2023 announcement that it would develop its own EV charging network at Walmart and Sam’s Club stores, with a long-term goal of deploying thousands of chargers by 2030. Working with charging technology partners ABB E-mobility and Alpitronic, Walmart added 25 new charging locations in May and another six sites in June.

“Walmart is building a leading retail-integrated EV fast-charging network, focused on delivering an affordable, reliable and convenient charging experience where customers already shop,” Bohl said. “Customers can charge while they shop, access stations through the Walmart app they already use, and benefit from affordable pricing.”

The network currently includes 612 individual charging stalls powered by 400-kilowatt fast chargers. Each stall is equipped with dual charging cables that support both Combined Charging System (CCS) and North American Charging Standard (NACS) connectors, allowing compatibility with a broad range of EV models. NACS connectors are more compact and lighter than traditional CCS connectors.

Drivers primarily access and pay for charging sessions through the Walmart app, which also provides real-time charger availability. However, Walmart is testing integrated credit card readers at some locations to make charging accessible to customers who do not use the app. The company says its charging stations will be available 24 hours a day, providing around-the-clock access for EV drivers.

EVinfo.net’s Take: EV Charging Rewards Growing Fast

Walmart’s ultra-fast rollout of EV charging in America is very encouraging. Not only do Walmart shoppers enjoy the convenience of charging while shopping at Walmart, but EV drivers around the country have more fast charging public options to choose from, making road trips easier, and easing strain on local drivers without home charging. Additionally, Walmart attracts EV driver customers, showing other businesses the great value of installing charging.

The Walmart Plus subscription program, where members receive 10% off the average charging rate of $0.46 per kilowatt-hour at Walmart-operated charging stations is a fantastic idea.

But even better than this is EV charging rewards that can span multiple networks and retail, restaurant and other businesses that accept payments from the public.

One of the newest entrants in that space is Nerava, a platform designed to turn electric vehicle (EV) charging downtime into an interactive rewards and local commerce experience, led by Founder and CEO James Kirk.

The concept behind Nerava is simple but strategically timed. EV drivers often spend between 15 and 45 minutes parked while charging. During that window, drivers are already physically near restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, and other businesses, but many have little visibility into what is actually walkable nearby. Nerava aims to bridge that discovery gap by surfacing nearby merchants and rewarding drivers for engaging with the ecosystem.

The platform positions itself as “the programmable incentive layer for EV charging,” combining charging verification, rewards distribution, merchant advertising, and sponsor-funded campaigns into one system. Drivers can earn cash rewards for verified charging sessions, while businesses gain targeted exposure to customers already in their vicinity.