Tesla Superchargers are being removed from the N.J. Turnpike as state opts for third-party EV chargers

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) announced its plans last week to transition to Universal Open Access chargers for electric vehicles as soon as June 6. 

In preparation for the transition, the NJTA asked Tesla to remove 64 existing Tesla Superchargers from the highly trafficked thoroughfare. Applegreen Electric will provide the new third-party chargers, which will be compatible with all makes and models of EVs, the NJTA said.

“The universal chargers will be available as of June 6 at the Vince Lombardi, Woodrow Wilson, Richard Stockton, James Fenimore Cooper, Joyce Kilmer, and Walt Whitman Service Areas,” the authority said in a statement. “The Turnpike Authority is working diligently with Applegreen to get the universal chargers online soon at three other Turnpike locations.” 

According to the NJTA, the universal chargers are expected to be operational at the Molly Pitcher Service Area next month and the Clara Barton and John Fenwick service areas this fall. 

The transition is part of a larger agreement

The NJTA had previously reached an agreement with Applegreen Electric to operate service areas along the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. 

An amendment to the agreement was authorized in 2023 to include the installation of EV chargers. As part of the amended agreement, Applegreen Electric will install and operate 80 EV charging ports by the end of this year and a total of 240 EV charging ports by April 2033. 

Blackstone-backed Applegreen Electric says it has more than 600 locations across Ireland, the U.K., and the United States. In the U.S., its chargers are concentrated in the Northeast.

Tesla and Tesla users are not happy

Tesla confirmed the news in a statement on X: “The New Jersey Turnpike Authority (“NJTA”) has chosen a sole third-party charging provider to serve the New Jersey Turnpike and is not allowing us to co-locate. As a result, NJTA requested 64 existing Supercharger stalls on the New Jersey Turnpike to not be renewed and be decommissioned.” 

The automotive company explained that it had spent the last three years building 116 stalls off the New Jersey Turnpike in preparation for this outcome. Tesla said it remains hopeful that NJTA or New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy will reverse the decision. 

In response to a tweet that shared the news, Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote: “Sounds like corruption.” 

Paul Kanitra, a Republican member of New Jersey’s General Assembly, expressed outrage over the decision. “I agree that these decisions by the NJTA are absolutely absurd and will be asking that it gets looked into immediately,” he posted on X.

Fast Company contacted Murphy’s office for comment and will update if we receive a response. 

Some EV drivers prefer Superchargers

The reaction to the news has been mixed. In a recent article for InsideEVs, writer Suvrat Kothari discussed the news and shared his experiences using different EV charging stations along the New Jersey Turnpike. Kothari explained he has had trouble when using non-Tesla chargers.

“[W]atching Tesla drivers pull in, charge, and drive off effortlessly is undeniably enviable,” Kothari said.

The news has also generated robust debate on the Electricvehicles subreddit, with more than 660 comments as of Monday afternoon.