UPDATE: More Context on NJ Turnpike Tesla Charger Removal

As reported by InsideEVs staff writer Suvrat Kothari, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) has requested the removal of 64 Tesla Superchargers from service plazas along one of the busiest highway corridors in the Northeast. The chargers are being decommissioned to make way for new stations operated by Applegreen Electric, the Irish company awarded the Turnpike’s exclusive charging rights.

Initially, this move sparked criticism, including from our good friend Tom Moloughney, Senior Editor at InsideEVs and host of the State of Charge YouTube channel. His immediate reaction on X reflected the frustration many Tesla drivers felt:

“I wonder who at the NJTA received the fat envelope of cash required to make @TeslaCharging remove the 64 Superchargers… It’s shameful and makes no sense…” – @tommolog

That concern is understandable — Tesla had offered to upgrade the sites with NACS and CCS1 compatibility, co-locate with other providers, and maintain high-reliability service. Those chargers are known for 99.9% uptime and pricing between $0.20 and $0.45 per kWh.

But as more information comes in, there’s additional nuance worth noting.

Applegreen, now managing the Turnpike’s rest stops, is installing new chargers—many of them high-performance Alpitronic units—that may actually provide better compatibility and charging speeds for non-Tesla EVs. While pricing details vary, the newer infrastructure could help support a broader mix of EV drivers.

For a balanced take, we recommend watching Tom Moloughney’s thoughtful update on this week’s Batteries Included podcast. He discusses the situation in more detail around the 28-minute mark: Watch on YouTube

The big picture still matters. New Jersey — and every state — needs to expand fast, reliable EV charging. Replacing functional chargers only makes sense when it leads to better, more accessible service for more drivers. Let’s keep our eyes on what matters most: building a network that works for everyone.