AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – Dutch EV drivers have been overcharged at public charging stations. User reports from Tap Electric combined with analysis by Maarten Hachmang of Laadpas Top 10, uncovered a consistent 5% surcharge. This hidden cost has gone unnoticed by EV drivers, municipalities, and charge point operators (CPOs).
A recent AD.nl article, based on data from LaadpasTop10 and Tap Electric, reported a 13% average increase in public charging rates. This new discovery reveals that 5% of that increase is due to hidden costs. Tap Electric and LaadpasTop10 are calling for immediate investigation and action to address these hidden fees and ensure fair pricing for EV drivers.
Many EV drivers have been overpaying since 1 January 2025
Tap Electric’s investigation reveals that the software used by some CPOs to manage charging stations and payments has been adding 2 cents per kWh more than the agreed concession price since January 1st, 2025. Both municipalities and CPOs were unaware drivers were paying more.
These extra costs were not intentionally imposed by CPOs like TotalEnergies and Equans, or by municipalities overseeing charging infrastructure. Yet, both EV drivers and CPOs are negatively impacted.
Multiple regions hit by hidden charging fee
Our analysis shows that drivers charging in Amsterdam, Almere, Haarlem, Utrecht, Groningen, Drenthe and Friesland have incurred unexpected costs since January 1st, resulting in an estimated collective cost of tens of thousands of euros.
Tap Electric calls for compensation for EV drivers
Despite weeks of efforts to resolve the issue, drivers are still being overcharged. By bringing this to the public’s attention, we are taking the necessary step to ensure accountability.Tap Electric is advocating for compensation for EV drivers who have overpaid. This requires reimbursement from the responsible software provider to Tap Electric and other mobility service providers (MSPs).
Tap’s goal is simple: this must stop, and the money must go back to EV drivers.
Hidden costs uncovered
With Tap Electric’s Price Intel feature, which transparently breaks down charging costs, some EV drivers noticed that the rates did not match the official prices that CPOs are allowed to charge MSPs under municipal agreements.
January:
- The first Tap Electric users reported irregularities in their charging rates.
- Maarten Hachmang from LaadpasTop10 observed similar discrepancies in his data and began his own investigation.
February:
- Deeper analysis by Tap Electric and LaadpasTop10 found that the price increases could not be explained by municipal contracts or CPO pricing policies.
- After multiple requests for clarification to CPOs and their software provider, it became evident that these additional costs were not only unjustified but also completely hidden from all involved parties.
“To keep the Dutch charging network the best in the world, prices must stay fair and transparent. We support municipalities and operators in making that happen,” says Nico Spoelstra, CEO of Tap Electric. “Our users exposed these hidden costs using Tap’s Price Intel feature – proof that transparency works.”
Municipalities urge for fair pricing
“Price transparency is essential for electric driving. As concession grantors, we have agreed on a fixed charging price, and it is crucial that the charging rate does not exceed the agreed amount,” says MRA-Electric, an organization in which several municipalities in North Holland, Utrecht, and Flevoland collaborate on public charging infrastructure. “We urge that this be resolved as soon as possible. Fairness and clarity in charging costs are crucial for trust in electric driving.”
Hidden costs must stop
Trust in public charging infrastructure is at stake. EV drivers should be able to count on fair and transparent pricing. These kinds of hidden costs are unacceptable. Tap Electric will continue to fight for transparency and fair pricing—and we urge all involved parties to resolve this issue quickly and definitively, and to ensure that EV drivers are fully compensated.
About Tap Electric
Tap Electric is an Amsterdam-based startup with the vision to deliver a brilliant driver experience at the intersection of grid and mobility.
Tap Electric media contact
FAQ for Tap drivers
How do I know I’m affected?
The 2 cent extra costs have not been added to every public charging network. To see if a charger in your municipality is affected, you can compare the network costs you see in Tap’s Price Intel with the tariffs mentioned on your municipality’s website.
In Amsterdam for example, TotalEnergies chargers are listed on the municipality website at 42 cent per kWh. However, the actual tariff charged to Tap (and other charge card providers) is 44 cent per kWh.
These extra costs were not intentionally imposed by CPOs like TotalEnergies and Equans, or by municipalities overseeing charging infrastructure. Yet, both EV drivers and CPOs are negatively impacted.
Why does my Price Intel include a transaction fee?
We are transparent in the app and on our website about potential transaction fees. Drivers with a Roamer subscription (EUR 2.50 per month) do not pay any transaction fees, but without it you do. You pay this on top of the network price. These network prices are often agreed between network operators and municipalities. These agreements have been broken because of the additional 2 cent per kWh.
What should I do when I use a charger with the 2 cent extra charge?
There is nothing you can or have to do. Your municipality is working with the operators to remove the 2 cents as soon as possible. We are advocating on your behalf for compensation of the amount you may have overpaid.
What will I pay when I use any of the affected chargers?
What you see in the app is what you pay”. This is crucial to us and it still holds today. What you pay on any charger, is exactly shown in the app’s Price Intel page before you start charging.
However, in some cases, the municipality has agreed with the operators that you pay less than this. We help municipalities to uncover where this happened, and how you can be compensated by them or by the operators.
Who will compensate me?
If you have been affected by this, we feel you are owed compensation for what you overpaid. We advocate for municipalities or CPOs to provide compensation. If and when this happens, we will refund the money back to each individual Tap driver who has been affected.
When will I be compensated?
We don’t know yet if you will be compensated, and if it happens, we don’t know yet when. As soon as we learn about plans for compensation, we will inform all affected drivers with an overview of how much they’re owed.
Is Tap Electric the only provider who is compensating drivers?
We know that many drivers in NL who have been using those chargers were affected somehow – not just Tap drivers. We cannot speak for other charge card providers and we don’t know what they are doing to help compensate you.
What is Tap’s role in all this?
Through our transparency features in Price Intel, some of you told Tap that you saw differences between network operator costs and what operators have agreed with municipalities. With this information, we went to operators and municipalities. Only after a few weeks did we learn about how operators have mistakenly been charging additional fees, without their consent or knowledge, through their software platform provider.
As part of Tap’s mission to deliver affordable, reliable charging we’re taking action so that the right thing is done for drivers.
