The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has ended its arrangement with Tesla. Sixty-four Supercharger stalls will be dismantled along the Turnpike, the main artery connecting North and South Jersey.
Instead, the state will adopt a single electric vehicle charging vendor. Tesla confirmed the shift in a social media post Friday, noting: “We have been preparing for three years for this potential outcome by building 116 stalls off the New Jersey Turnpike, ensuring no interruption for our customers.” The company added, “The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has requested that Tesla decommission all 64 Supercharger stalls on the major highway.”
Starting June 6, service plazas will begin using universal chargers supplied by Applegreen Electric, which are compatible with all EV brands. The NJTA made the announcement in a May 30 statement.
Tesla said it had proposed expanded service at all Turnpike rest stops, upgrades to its hardware, and new equipment like screens and NACS connectors with CCS1 “magic docks.” That offer was declined.
Tesla criticized the move, calling it a loss for drivers. “Tesla always advocates for more infrastructure and co-location with additional third-party charging providers. This drives down costs through optionality, and accelerates EV adoption by having sufficient capacity to shoulder peaks,” the company said.
It also warned that removing the Superchargers could undercut the state’s clean energy targets. “NJTA’s decision to remove, rather than add, critical charging infrastructure is a setback for New Jersey’s electric vehicle adoption goals of 100% Zero-Emission New Car Sales by 2035,” the statement read.
Universal chargers will go live June 6 at six key stops: Vince Lombardi, Joyce Kilmer, Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, James Fenimore Cooper, and Richard Stockton. Installations at Molly Pitcher are expected by July. Clara Barton and John Fenwick locations are scheduled for fall.
Tesla ended its message with a note of caution—and hope. It said it remains optimistic that “the NJTA or Gov. Phil Murphy might change their minds about the charging stations.”
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.