Welcome to the latest edition of EV New Rewind!
This month, we’ll walk you through Walmart and GM’s plans to help both commercial and residential EV owners, a bill passed in Texas that will guarantee a statewide competitive EV charging marketplace, and the recent surge in accessibility for new and used EVs.
Walmart unveils plans for nationwide EV charging network
Retail stores across the nation have begun installing EV chargers at their locations, but the nation’s largest retailer, Walmart, has recently announced a massive installation plan of its own.
The company already houses 1,300 fast-charging stations at 280 stores. By 2030, that number will expand to include thousands of Walmart and Sam’s Club locations, with at least 4 new charging stations taking root at each one.
According to a statement released by Walmart, there are Walmart or Sam’s Club stores within 10 miles of about 90% of the American population. This level of reach makes the retailer uniquely capable of providing accessible charging to a wide range of customers, including low and middle income communities.
The company plans to reach zero emissions by 2040 and continues to make efforts to expand its fleet of EVs as well.
GM reveals “Envolve” brand for EV fleet management
General Motors has officially launched GM Envolve, a comprehensive experience that will help customers “reduce their environmental impact, streamline fleet operations, and increase driver safety.” The service gives companies access to GM’s entire range of products and services which they can use to further their current and future business goals.
Though GM Envolve will also cater to ICE fleets, the service is designed to help businesses to reach their emissions goals by eventually making the switch to an all-electric fleet. Customers will be assigned a dedicated GM account executive who will curate their experience and provide data-driven insights to propel fleet optimization.
Texas passes legislation for competitive EV charging
This month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law that will open the floodgates for private investments in statewide EV charging.
Senate Bill 1002 guarantees a free and open marketplace for EV charging in the state of Texas by allowing private businesses to fund EV charging and offer their own charging stations to their customers.
According to Texas State Representative Ana Hernandez, “This legislation will enable the gas stations, truck stops, and convenience stores that already line our interstates to compete with one another to offer customers the best EV charging service.”
Used EV prices down, EV accessibility up
A study performed by Cox Automotive indicates that average used EV prices in the United States have reduced by as much as 4% since 2022. With these lower prices, an ever-expanding inventory of used EVs, and Inflation Reduction Act incentives available to a variety of both residential and commercial customers, the used EV market is set to keep booming over the coming years.
EV accessibility continues to rise thanks to the expansion of EV retailers as well.
This month, Polestar, a Swedish EV company, launched a new retail location in Atlanta, GA. With one of the best EV charging networks in the Eastern United States, the city has seen a growing demand for EVs.
Polestar’s Atlanta outlet will provide education about EVs to the local community via test drives and offer various local and federal financial incentives for leased EVs.
Hertz has also recently announced plans to add up to 6,000 EVs to its Orlando rental fleet. These vehicles will be accessible to rides hare drivers, leisure customers, and businesses.
Lyft strikes deal with Fluid Truck to electrify 20% of its Denver fleet
Fluid Truck has partnered with Lyft to supply electric trucks for the collection of Lyft's scooters and bikes in Denver, marking a step towards Lyft's goal of electrifying its entire truck fleet by 2030.
Fluid Truck shares a lot of similarities with Lyft as a company; namely the commitment to expand access to shared mobility resources. Both companies allow customers to rent vehicles (trucks or scooters) on the spot with convenient apps.
Lyft currently operates a fleet of 2,930 electric scooters and 586 e-bikes in Denver, with an average of 8,400 trips per day. Fluid Truck's software enables companies to manage fleets efficiently without owning the vehicles, providing scalability and flexibility. The partnership with Fluid Truck aligns with Lyft's commitment to sustainable operations and shared mobility.
