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Walmart and Sam’s Club introduce ‘game-changing’ new feature at hundreds of stores across the country: ‘It’s a big win’
Yahoo ^ | June 20, 2023 | Jane Donohue

Posted on 06/20/2023 10:58:33 AM PDT by grundle

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To: dragnet2
They’ve already said they want to eliminate all ice vehicle in the future. What do you mean diversification?

I hope they're not successful. I don't think they'll be fully successful (i.e. completely eliminate ICE cars). However I do fear they'll tax them or the gas put into them enough to make driving ICE cars infeasible. Think Jizya tax in some Muslim countries applied to people who won't bow to the "right" religion.

But if it gets to that point I guess I'll have to stick to either local driving or trips no longer than 250-300 miles round trip.

You're preaching to the choir. I prefer ICE cars over EV's in most scenarios. And I hate the Dims forcing a one-size-fits-all policy instead of letting us make our own choices. And if I could drill and refine my own oil I would. But I can't. Since it's clear the Dims are intent on implementing their stupid war on energy, I took it on myself to implement capturing the one energy source available to me: solar. It's nowhere nearly as efficient as oil or natural gas or coal. But those other energy sources have one very unfortunate characteristic: my access to them is vulnerable to the polices of the Dims. Solar is different. God is the only "bureaucrat" I have to worry about making sure solar is available. And I'm the only "regulator" that manages what happens with the solar that hits our property (i.e. power the house, charge the home batteries, and charge the EV, and at an optimum configuration for our power consumption habits to minimize how often we have to pull from the grid).

Admittedly that's not a good option for a lot of people, especially people who don't live in the south. But for us it works well (80% of all the power we need comes from solar, including charging the EV for our local driving and the first 250 miles of trips). It'd be infeasible for now to try to be 100% energy independent -- I'd rather keep buying the other 20% or so of the power we need. But I have a backup plan for being 100% energy independent without reducing our lifestyle if the Dims force it to that point.

As it is with 2 years of owning solar and 1 year of owning the EV, I have lots of data from my inverters on power consumption/power pulled from grid/power obtained from solar/power charged to batteries/power discharged from batteries, etc. All recorded in 5-minute candles that I export weekly and import into a homemade TSQL database (this part is easy for us code jockeys). I then compare it to miles driven in the EV, gas price as it fluctuates at the cheapest of local gas stations, etc. Even if from here on the Dims allow energy costs to go up only a reasonable 3% YOY inflation rate, the overall energy project will pay for itself 10 years from now with the savings in many ways vs. the costs (of which there were plenty too). In effect, I've moved most of our future unknown energy costs and replaced them with a fixed known cost. That assists my long-term retirement financial planning. I wish I could do that with all future costs and not just energy costs.

81 posted on 06/20/2023 12:57:11 PM PDT by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: Tell It Right

johnny one note.


82 posted on 06/20/2023 12:59:21 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: grundle

That option begins with inserting your credit card... or maybe it will only accept a debit card.

Maybe they will tell us if the USG is involved?

Notice it ain’t free.


83 posted on 06/20/2023 1:04:17 PM PDT by Jumper
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Not only did Wal-mart put their initial order in the most plausible spacing along the snowbird express, but there are Cracker Barrels within walking distance. First stop 40-minute lunch, second stop 40-minute dinner, reverse order return trip. I’d share my route but figure it out for yourself.


84 posted on 06/20/2023 1:06:01 PM PDT by StAnDeliver (Tanned, rested, and ready.)
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To: CodeToad

LOL, no. It was an Audi S4.


85 posted on 06/20/2023 1:09:07 PM PDT by rivercat
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To: texas booster
Plug Share is the most popular among EV owners in the U.S. And it has frequently updated comments for each charger (i.e. fast charger, but poor lighting for night charging; or grabbed a quick bite next door with good food, or chargers # 7 and 8 didn't work but I got a quick charge at # 5, etc.). It's best feature is that it's popular and, therefore, is a frequented forum of reviews. It's also got a good trip planner and a filter for your car type. (Mine's CCS, so no Tesla super charging for me, but I have a Tesla Tap for the slower Tesla overnight Level 2 chargers some hotels have for free, plus mine also does the J-1772 Level 2 charging other hotels have.). And I have the 120V charger in the trunk if we rent a cabin that has outdoor outlets to charge while we're enjoying the cabin, which is particularly useful if we're there all day (i.e. a cabin rental on a lake in which the EV will charge while we're in back at the water).

So within 10 minutes before a long trip you have a list of good chargers saved. While on the trip, you click on the next charger you want to stop at on your trip, click directions, and it launches Apple Maps. You remember back in the days before GPS when we'd get out maps to plan a trip? It's a lot like that except less time required for planning and with real time updates and ease while on the trip. While charging I pull up the app and pick out the next charger after first seeing new reviews. And after charging I leave a quick review for other drivers (i.e. charger is rated 150kW and I got 133kW max, done in 12 minutes, well lit area even at night, grabbed a quick burger and fries next door still open at 9 PM).

Now sometimes in that 10 minutes or so planning the trip we may decide that the EV would be bad and we take the ICE pickup instead. There are some stretches of the country that have few chargers. But so far, anywhere near enough for us to drive instead of fly has had good chargers (in the southeast). Of course, that's because I've yet to go on a trip without my wife since we got the EV. Whenever that day comes I'll probably take the ICE truck regardless of the charging options so I can drive 300 or 400 miles between stops LOL (my wife likes to stop every 200 miles and walk around, which works for charging).

86 posted on 06/20/2023 1:20:56 PM PDT by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: grundle

So the profits made off of us oil burners will be used for services provided to EV drivers. Got it.


87 posted on 06/20/2023 1:29:10 PM PDT by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: reed13k

Don’t forget the designated pre ordered pickup parking places. Our walmart liquor store even has pickup parking! Great if you’re already sloshed!


88 posted on 06/20/2023 1:33:31 PM PDT by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: Labyrinthos

False.


89 posted on 06/20/2023 1:50:14 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: Red Badger

These free copper cables for thieves are reparations—more virtue signaling....

;-)


90 posted on 06/20/2023 1:52:26 PM PDT by cgbg (Claiming that laws and regs that limit “hate speech” stop freedom of speech is “hate speech”.)
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To: SunkenCiv

“(try to) attract more upscale shoppers.”

The upscale types will charge up the vehicle and enter the local Walmart for the first time.

Then they will see the rest of the shoppers....and run back to their vehicle!

;-)


91 posted on 06/20/2023 1:54:54 PM PDT by cgbg (Claiming that laws and regs that limit “hate speech” stop freedom of speech is “hate speech”.)
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To: cgbg

Yeah, as I said, they probably know what to expect, and will use the charging stations (no lines) but not shop. Sam’s OTOH will work out well, assuming they can load 75” flat screens into their cars. :^)


92 posted on 06/20/2023 1:58:09 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Your post reminds me of my wife’s sister—she actually bought a “cute” house without measuring the garage.

Her vehicle was several inches too long to fit into the garage—and this is in CT where we get real winter.

Her buyer’s agent—a part time realtor, part time hairdresser!


93 posted on 06/20/2023 2:06:47 PM PDT by cgbg (Claiming that laws and regs that limit “hate speech” stop freedom of speech is “hate speech”.)
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To: grundle

Maybe their parking lots will resemble drive-in theaters.


94 posted on 06/20/2023 2:44:25 PM PDT by GingisK
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To: grundle

They didn’t get it right. There is no reason to switch to EVs.


95 posted on 06/20/2023 2:45:02 PM PDT by GingisK
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To: grundle

haha first off where I live no one drives an electric vehicle, second, the meth heads will strip them of copper in about a week lol


96 posted on 06/20/2023 3:35:23 PM PDT by eXe (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: SunkenCiv

Care to explain?


97 posted on 06/20/2023 3:37:49 PM PDT by Labyrinthos
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To: Zack Attack

Well dem golf carts used to be nice.


98 posted on 06/20/2023 3:42:03 PM PDT by deport
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To: grundle

They’re thinking they’ll make buck while the libs are charging their EVs.

Similar to inviting the RVers to park in their parking lots....I guess.


99 posted on 06/20/2023 3:42:55 PM PDT by Jane Long (What we were told was a conspiracy theory in ‘20 is now fact. Land of the sheep, home of the knaves)
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To: rivercat
LOL, it won’t be minority groups, it’ll be all the “get of my lawn” types around here that end up doing it...

I kind of doubt that.

Around here, the really successful criminal organizations are mostly Hispanic. They are the ones who steal the cars, cut off the catalytic converters, and gut houses for copper. They are quick and good at what they do and have connections to dispose of the loot and get cash.

And no, the District Attorneys were not prosecuting them. That would be "racist" or something. Got to make the numbers come out equal for Blacks, Whites, and Hispanics, so the non-Whites get easy plea bargains or dismissals. It eventually caused a serious conflict with the police, which seems to have been quietly settled. I am unsure of the terms.

I agree with your observation, that straight White guys who do this stuff tend to get put away pretty fast. And there are plenty of White guys in the criminal occupations too. Don't get me wrong. Crime is the ultimate "equal opportunity employer. Anybody can join in.

We have a very selective "Just-us" system. As George Carlin said, "It's a big club, and you are not in it".

100 posted on 06/20/2023 4:11:10 PM PDT by flamberge (Life is an objective test. And it is graded "pass-fail")
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