CITYWATT acquires Evoltra to scale Germany's EV fast-charging network
What's the deal? CITYWATT Holding, a German e-mobility operator running more than 50 fast-charging parks, has acquired Evoltra GmbH, a specialist developer of public EV charging infrastructure. The deal folds Evoltra's project pipeline and development expertise into CITYWATT's operations, with Evoltra rebranding as CITYWATT Development.
Evoltra was founded in 2024 and is based in Munich and Ingolstadt. Its co-founders — Adrian Zierer, co-founder and former chief executive officer of Charge Construct, and Pascal Bosten, former country lead Germany at Eviny — bring deep experience across the full charge point operator value chain.
Evoltra focuses on building fast-charging sites at high-traffic locations such as supermarkets and major transport corridors. It has secured framework agreements with large German grocery chains including the REWE Group (which includes PENNY) and discounter Netto. The company also pairs charging infrastructure with photovoltaic systems and battery storage.
Why now? EV adoption in Germany is accelerating, and so are the demands on financing, site development, and scalable operation of public charging networks. CITYWATT founder and chief executive officer Harald Praml said the buildout is entering "a new phase" where speed, scale, and commercially viable locations are decisive.
"With Evoltra, we bring additional project development expertise into the group and significantly expand our pipeline for new charging parks," Praml said.
What could go wrong? Integrating a young startup — Evoltra is barely a year old — into an established operator carries execution risk. Merging teams, processes, and site pipelines while maintaining development speed is no small task. Germany's charging market is also increasingly competitive, with utilities, oil majors, and other operators all vying for prime locations.
The signal: The deal reflects a broader consolidation trend in European EV charging. As the market matures, operators are moving from land-grab mode to vertically integrated models that combine site development, energy management, and network operations under one roof. Pairing charging with solar and battery storage — as Evoltra does — signals that the next generation of charging infrastructure is being designed around energy economics, not just plug count.
For CITYWATT, the acquisition is a bet that owning the development pipeline, rather than relying on third parties, will be the competitive edge as Germany races to build out its fast-charging network.
Read more: pressebox.de
