NJ’s Trenton When it was still popular to set fire to Tesla stores and destroy cybertrucks, long before Elon Musk and President Donald Trump were at odds, New Jersey wanted to show the president’s number two man who was in charge.
It’s too late to salvage his company’s electric charges from the New Jersey Turnpike scrap heap now that the two are at odds and Elon Musk is starting to win back support from the far-left.
At rest areas along the New Jersey Turnpike, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) has started to phase out 64 Tesla Supercharger stalls in favor of Applegreen Electric’s universal electric vehicle (EV) chargers. Since it began on June 6, the transition has generated discussion among EV drivers and prompted inquiries regarding the state’s approach to EV infrastructure.
The decision is based on a 2023 contract between the NJTA and Applegreen, which runs the eateries and convenience stores at Turnpike rest sites.
Tesla’s presence on the Turnpike was essentially terminated when Applegreen was given the only authority to install and run EV chargers at all 21 service sites. All EV makes and models can now use the new chargers, which are currently available at six rest stops: Walt Whitman, Joyce Kilmer, Woodrow Wilson, Richard Stockton, James Fenimore Cooper, and Vince Lombardi. By the fall of 2025, more installations are anticipated at the Clara Barton and John Fenwick rest stops, as well as at the Molly Pitcher rest stop in July.
Tesla voiced its displeasure, offering to modify current stalls to accommodate non-Tesla EVs and co-locate its chargers with Applegreen’s.
The company contended that New Jersey’s objective of selling 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2035 may be hampered by the removal of its dependable, high-uptime chargers. Tesla has constructed 116 Supercharger stalls at off-Turnpike locations, such Wawa stores, to lessen the impact and guarantee its customers’ continuous access. For smooth navigation, these websites are incorporated into Tesla’s in-car Trip Planner.
New Jersey, it was always about political agendas and business profits, not about turning green.
Some EV drivers and others who disagree with the NJTA’s ruling contend that Tesla’s Superchargers, which are renowned for their 99.9% uptime and less cost per kilowatt-hour, provided a better charging experience.
Despite being universal and meeting both CCS and NACS standards, Applegreen’s chargers are said to have fewer stalls per location and higher rates, which could result in longer wait times.
Social media was used by several drivers to vent their irritation, pointing out that the crowded 117-mile route that connects northern and southern New Jersey is made more inconvenient by detours to off-Turnpike tolls.
NJTA officials and other proponents of the initiative stress the importance of universal chargers for all EV owners, not only Tesla users.
In order to alleviate range anxiety and assist the state’s expanding EV population—which reached 91,000 registered vehicles in 2022—the authority plans to almost increase the number of charging stations along the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.
Reactions to the switch have been divided. While some see it as a setback for dependable infrastructure, others see it as a step toward fair access for all EV vehicles.
The NJTA is under pressure to make sure Applegreen’s chargers are as reliable and accessible as Tesla’s network as the transition progresses, particularly on one of the busiest highways in the Northeast. For the time being, EV users will have to find local alternatives to Tesla or adjust to the new charging environment.
