More public EV charging points coming to Rotterdam

ROTTERDAM, 9 September 2026 – Rotterdam is set to get more public EV charging points under a new regional concession covering 43 municipalities in South Holland and Zeeland. TotalEnergies Public Charging and Velian have been awarded the contract, which is intended to bring thousands of new chargers, lower public-charging prices and smarter charging as pressure on the electricity grid increases.

More chargers where demand is highest

New public charging points will be installed according to demand, using data from existing chargers as well as forecasts for the growth of electric vehicles. In Rotterdam, that should mean additional infrastructure is directed towards areas where existing charging points are being used heavily or where more electric cars are expected.

A single charging post will generally provide two connections, allowing two vehicles to charge at the same time. The wider aim is to expand the network while making efficient use of limited public space.

The concession covers Rotterdam alongside 42 other municipalities in South Holland and Zeeland. The announcement does not specify how many of the thousands of planned new charging points will be installed specifically in Rotterdam or provide a neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood rollout schedule.

Public charging should become cheaper

One of the most noticeable changes for drivers should be the price. The new concession is designed to make charging at the new public chargers considerably cheaper, with the tariffs expected to rank among the lowest for public EV charging in the Netherlands.

Existing charging points that are transferred under the concession will also move to the new pricing structure. No exact Rotterdam tariff was provided in the announcement, however, and prices may later change with energy-market conditions, taxes and grid charges. Your charging-card provider may also add its own fees.

New charging posts will include digital screens showing information about charging costs. Drivers will be able to see pricing before starting a session, with further information provided during and after charging.

You will also be able to pay directly without using a charging card. The screens will provide information about this one-off payment option as well as tariffs associated with commonly used charging cards.

Smart charging tackles grid congestion

Expanding Rotterdam’s charging network is increasingly connected to another infrastructure problem: grid congestion (netcongestie). South Holland and Zeeland both face pressure on the electricity network, which can affect how quickly new charging infrastructure can be connected.

The new system therefore includes smart charging. When the grid is particularly busy, charging power can temporarily be reduced. When more capacity is available, vehicles can charge faster.

Flexible pricing will also be introduced to encourage charging at quieter times. That could mean a lower price when the electricity network has more available capacity, giving drivers a financial reason to shift when they charge.

Charging network prepares for the future

The regional concession is also intended to prepare public charging infrastructure for further growth in electric driving. The participating municipalities want a network that can respond more actively to electricity supply and demand rather than simply delivering the same charging power at all times.

Future developments could eventually include electricity flowing in the opposite direction, allowing suitable electric vehicles to return power to the grid. The announcement presents this as a future possibility rather than a feature that will be immediately available at Rotterdam charging points.

For Rotterdam drivers, the more immediate changes are simpler: more chargers, clearer information about what charging costs, direct payment without a charging card and the possibility of paying less by charging when the grid is quieter.