You have to watch your step carefully when you become a Walmart supplier. That’s because the giant chain store sets high standards and chooses its suppliers carefully. Therefore, we were surprised to see Walmart and Tesla embroiled in a dispute over the quality of their solar panels.
How Did Walmart and Tesla Get to This Point?
Tesla installed solar panels on the roofs of over 240 Walmart stores in the U.S. between 2012 and 2018. However, last week the chain launched a lawsuit asking Tesla to remove the panels because of technical difficulties.
Things seemed as sweet as peanut butter and honey on a muffin after the media created a storm over the case. Walmart and Tesla issued a joint statement to the effect they were addressing the concerns. Every system needed to operate safely they assured, but they were looking forward to re-energizing the installations. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire so we decided to investigate further.
How a Seventh Fire Caused Walmart to React
Fires broke out on the roofs of solar-powered Walmart stores in 2012, 2016 and 2017, but the company wrote them off as ‘isolated incidents’. Then in March 2018 a fire broke out at Beavercreek, Ohio that caused serious damage and stock loss. Two months later, another two blazes erupted in Denton, Maryland and Indio, California eight days apart.
Walmart asked Tesla to deactivate the systems throughout the chain. Unfortunately, before it could do so another fire occurred at Yuba City, California according to Ars Technica. They say Walmart claims Tesla “engaged in widespread, systemic negligence and … failed to abide by prudent industry practices in installing, operating, and maintaining its solar systems”.
Tesla apparently concedes a “total of 157 actions requiring repairs” … with 48 “reflecting conditions that rendered the sites unsafe or potentially unsafe.” However, there’s been no apparent impact on the deal between Walmart and Tesla for 45 Tesla electric trucks.
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Preview Image: Peanut Butter and Honey on an English Muffin
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