Here is an video of a roadtrip by a YouTube group checking out the new Volvo Starbucks chargers using MY24 XC40 and C40. These are also non-Volvo users so it is very interesting hearing their opinions about the vehicles.

 

Thanks, ajrob for the link! Interesting but absolute torture to watch. I found myself screaming at the monitor: Where the **** are you? Be warned: this is terrible reporting with emphasis only on the predicted/actual state of charge estimate system with little to none of the supporting information that EV roadtrippers need. And they started at a Starbies in Vail CO? It's not even in the network. So, you won't get any of the information most of us want such as power level of the available poles (some are 62kW, some are 200kW), actual distances traveled, weather and elevation observations, names of the towns. At about 9:00 they stop at Price UT, which is located between two of the network Starbies on the LONG 240 stretch between the stores in Provo UT and Grand Junction CO. There's no Starbies in Price UT but there is a ChargePoint pole. The other major 200 mile gap on this route is between the Starbies in Uintah UT and Twin Falls ID. It's not until 22:00 they finally identify the vehicles as 2024 RWD units with extended range. Also of note, the crew on this trip were given a press book. I wonder if that document can be obtained from Volvo? If you search the yootoobs, you will find some other clips about this charging network. Sooner or later, we'll get a well produced report with the information roadtrippers want.

 

Thanks, ajrob for the link! Interesting but absolute torture to watch. I found myself screaming at the monitor: Where the **** are you? Be warned: this is terrible reporting with emphasis only on the predicted/actual state of charge estimate system with little to none of the supporting information that EV roadtrippers need. And they started at a Starbies in Vail CO? It's not even in the network. So, you won't get any of the information most of us want such as power level of the available poles (some are 62kW, some are 200kW), actual distances traveled, weather and elevation observations, names of the towns. At about 9:00 they stop at Price UT, which is located between two of the network Starbies on the LONG 240 stretch between the stores in Provo UT and Grand Junction CO. There's no Starbies in Price UT but there is a ChargePoint pole. The other major 200 mile gap on this route is between the Starbies in Uintah UT and Twin Falls ID. It's not until 22:00 they finally identify the vehicles as 2024 RWD units with extended range. Also of note, the crew on this trip were given a press book. I wonder if that document can be obtained from Volvo? If you search the yootoobs, you will find some other clips about this charging network. Sooner or later, we'll get a well produced report with the information roadtrippers want.

Yes. I don't think these folks are EV people (guessing so from the name of their channel) so the video is a little different from what we are looking for road tripping. I did find some useful info in it though. The lady, Jill, did state that the XC40 had a 297 mile range at the start of the video so that told me it was MY24. They also mentioned that the XC40 pulled into a 200kW charger and only received 30kW because the C40 had arrived first and was receiving the full charge on the shared system. Once the C40 started tapering down, the XC40 charging power starting ramping up. That seems to be a slight improvement over the older Chargepoint systems I am familiar with where you don't get the additional power allocation until the first car finished charging. Another was the parking spots for charging that were all labeled as "preferred" for charging and not restricted to charging only. That will lead to frequent ICEing, imho.

 

Someone fund this trip for me and I'll deliver a video clip worthy of the two brands AND satisfy the needs of EV roadtrippers.

 

I’d love to join you on this roadtrip! Never been to Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Washington, so it would definitely hit my sweet driving spot and I get to see the gorgeous Pacific Northwest, Western regions! It may likely take me 2 days with an overnight stop at a hotel to make it to CO! Let’s make it happen @bogiesan 🔥🔥🤘🏽

 

Walmarts latest announcement for EV charger expansion:


Walmart is planning to build a number of new stores and overhaul existing ones to bring them in line with its newfangled Store of the Future concept. Besides widened product selection and better store layouts, Walmart is adding a number of tech innovations to assist its employees and customers alike.
One of the customer facing improvements will be the addition of fast electric vehicle charging stations in the new or remodeled Walmart stores. Those fast chargers on Walmart parking lots will not only aim to facilitate the shopping sprees of EV owners, but will also be a part of a nationwide charging network that America's largest retailer is aiming to build.

These new facilities will be designed with sustainability in mind, including more energy-efficient equipment and lighting, lower impact refrigerants and more. We’re also working on developing a coast-to-coast network of affordable electric vehicle fast-charging stations we hope will make EV ownership a more convenient and accessible choice for Walmart shoppers and associates.

Walmart adding fast EV chargers to its store parking lots in affordable nationwide charging network push

Gone are the days when Walmart sued Tesla for solar rooftop fires as America's largest retailer takes steps to build a coast-to-coast fast electric vehicle charging network. The move is part of its Store of the Future vision for sustainability.

www.notebookcheck.net

 

Walmarts latest announcement for EV charger expansion:


Walmart is planning to build a number of new stores and overhaul existing ones to bring them in line with its newfangled Store of the Future concept. Besides widened product selection and better store layouts, Walmart is adding a number of tech innovations to assist its employees and customers alike.
One of the customer facing improvements will be the addition of fast electric vehicle charging stations in the new or remodeled Walmart stores. Those fast chargers on Walmart parking lots will not only aim to facilitate the shopping sprees of EV owners, but will also be a part of a nationwide charging network that America's largest retailer is aiming to build.

Walmart adding fast EV chargers to its store parking lots in affordable nationwide charging network push

Gone are the days when Walmart sued Tesla for solar rooftop fires as America's largest retailer takes steps to build a coast-to-coast fast electric vehicle charging network. The move is part of its Store of the Future vision for sustainability.

www.notebookcheck.net

This project from Walmart Energy is now reported to be gaining traction in 2025. A first site in McKinney, Texas is up and running with the addition of 10 new DCFCs under construction in the Dallas Fort Worth area, with Alpitronic hyperchargers (nice long workhouse cables with 32 inch screens). This should be a complete Walmart experience, and I am hoping there will be 1000s installed across key interstate corridors along with the new IONNA DCFC buildout.

NW Arkansas, Phoenix and Dallas markets are the initial three places where these DCFCs will be installed.

 

That's interesting, already here that's one of the most common places for an Electrify America charger.

 

Wallmart understands money. If they can make money selling electricity while EV drivers spend money in the store, they'll build and own the facilities instead of leasing the footprint to Electrify America. Some of the issues with the EA poles at many WMs: they are often far from the store (I don't shop while charging at the local EA and folks are often gone much longer than needed blocking the pole), they are uncovered, and many have no immediately adjacent amenities like restrooms and trash cans. The remodeled WMs will, according to other interpretations fo that press release, have nicely appointed charging stations where possible and potentially profitable.

Walmart’s preparing to build its own coast-to-coast EV charging network

Walmart’s building a nationwide EV fast charging network by 2030.

www.theverge.com

 

I am starting to plan a drive from Boise to colorado Sorings using the Volvo/Starbies network. Very frustrating. I had hoped there would be a shortcut button in one or more of the planning apps that includes only the Starbies chargers but, no. There isn't even a list of addresses or a direct/siomple way to find Starbucks in any of the larger cities such as Sandy UT. Anybody have any suggestions on how to use filters in, say, ABRP to select ONLY Starbies/ChargePoint locations?

 

Don’t think you are going to get a single push button click of all Volvo Starbucks locations. This would be a great feature addition in the Volvo cars app however after they initiate Tesla supercharging or with the current ChargePoint integration.

These are the locations of the Volvo Starbucks from Seattle to Denver, CO. There is a map at the link below that shows the approximate location of charge in each of the states from WA to CO.

Give ChargeHub a shot.

https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2024/find-an-ev-charger-at-starbucks-stores-from-seattle-to-denver/

• Seattle, WA
• Issaquah, WA
• Yakima, WA
• Hermiston, OR
• La Grande, OR
• Nampa, ID
• Twin Falls, ID
• Uintah, ID
• Sandy, UT
• Provo, UT
• Grand Junction, CO
• Glenwood Springs, CO
• Silverthorne, CO
• Idaho Springs, CO
• Broomfield, CO
  From Nampa to Broomfield, CO there are 6 charging stops using the Chargeway app.
  

 

Thanbks, buddy. What a pain in the ass. No matter how I attempt to put addresses/locations into any of the route planners, all I get are huge lists of options. No easy way to do this. I really don't want another app but I'll give your ChargeHub a try. Secomd question, once I've got the route and chargers selected and saved, how do I get that to the Volvo phone app and to the google maps?

 

You are welcome! At this point there is no integration directly built in from any of the charging apps (except ChargePoint). Once you enter your from/to destination in Google maps that should be good. I usually toggle between Google Maps and Waze when I am road tripping.

I have had really good solid experience (I am sure you did as well) with the following charging apps.

• ChargeHub App - many stations you can directly charge from the hub app
• Electrify America App.
• ChargePoint App.

You may likely have to use EVGo and a few others but my thought would be to stick to the route with the most popular DCFCs.

Make sure you have your payment method setup in these apps, so you are not scrambling at the station adding your credit card (I have done it multiple times and it’s not good to be whipping out your plastic card at a station in the middle of nowhere).

I would recommend you use these for your roadtrip and yes it’s a sure PIA to be using a myriad of them but, at this point there are more apps in the works (like Rivian Adventure Network, Pilot Flying J…) 😀.

 

When I drive by the WM/EA site here in Boise ID, there are usually two to four cars on the four poles (well, those that function), all times of the day. Station has three 350 plus one 150kW poles. There is plenty of room in the lot for a second, differently branded EV station and there appears to be no shortge of customers. But I'm a bit uninformed. I wonder if EA's site usage data is available anywhere. That would be informative.

 

I don't believe EA gives out usage data for any site. Would be nice to see, though.

 

The latest Walmart energy sites that are up and running:

Walmart starts its own EV charging network | PlugShare posted on the topic | LinkedIn

If you’ve charged your electric vehicle at a Walmart property over the past few years, you’re not alone—PlugShare lists more than 1,400 fast-charging stations at Walmart or Sam's Club locations. Those numbers could look small in just five years if Walmart’s plans for an in-house EV charging...

www.linkedin.com

Springdale Walmart Supercenter
4870 Elm Springs Rd, Springdale, AR 72762, USA

Springdale Walmart Supercenter | Springdale, AR | EV Station

Walmart Crossroads
11700 US-380, Cross Roads, TX 76227, USA

Walmart Crossroads | Cross Roads, TX | EV Station

Walmart Supercenter #206 - Mckinney Supercenter
2058 Redbud Blvd, McKinney, TX 75069, USA

Walmart Supercenter #206 - Mckinney Supercenter | McKinney, TX | EV Station

 

The latest Walmart energy sites that are up and running:

Walmart starts its own EV charging network | PlugShare posted on the topic | LinkedIn

If you’ve charged your electric vehicle at a Walmart property over the past few years, you’re not alone—PlugShare lists more than 1,400 fast-charging stations at Walmart or Sam's Club locations. Those numbers could look small in just five years if Walmart’s plans for an in-house EV charging...

www.linkedin.com

Springdale Walmart Supercenter
4870 Elm Springs Rd, Springdale, AR 72762, USA

Springdale Walmart Supercenter | Springdale, AR | EV Station

Walmart Crossroads
11700 US-380, Cross Roads, TX 76227, USA

Walmart Crossroads | Cross Roads, TX | EV Station

Walmart Supercenter #206 - Mckinney Supercenter
2058 Redbud Blvd, McKinney, TX 75069, USA

Walmart Supercenter #206 - Mckinney Supercenter | McKinney, TX | EV Station

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Good explanation of charging on a Walmart Energy DCFC using the Walmart App!