NJ Turnpike Authority to Replace Tesla Charging Stations

[samhexum]

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has decided to part ways with Tesla, ordering 64 Supercharges to be removed from the super highway connecting northern and southern New Jersey.

The authority has decided to use a sole third-party provider for its electric vehicle charging, which is why it didn’t renew a contract to keep Tesla Superchargers on the toll road, Tesla said on social media on Friday.

“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 Tesla statement said. “The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has requested that Tesla decommission all 64 Supercharger stalls on the major highway,“

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. We have been preparing for 3 years for this potential outcome by building 116 stalls off the New Jersey Turnpike, ensuring no interruption for our customers. The map below outlines the existing replacement Superchargers, and Trip Planner will adjust automatically.

Service areas on the New Jersey Turnpike will begin transitioning fully to Universal Open Access EV chargers on June 6, according to a statement issued May 30 by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

The chargers, which will be provided by Applegreen Electric, are compatible with all makes and models of electric vehicles, the statement said.

Tesla said it offered the NJTA above-market commercial terms, including offering to build Superchargers at all New Jersey service plaza and with equipment upgrades, such as screens and NACS with CCS1 “magic docks”.

Tesla called the decision to eliminate the charging stations a setback for EV users on the highway.

“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 statement said.

Tesla also said that 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. It removes Turnpike access to the most reliable (99.9% uptime), least congested (<1% waiters) and cost-effective (~30% lower $/kWh) charging.

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 NJTA said it is working with Applegreen to get the universal chargers online soon at three other Turnpike locations.

The chargers are expected to be operational in the Molly Pitcher Service Area in July and the Clara Barton and John Fenwick Service Areas this fall.

Tesla said in the statement it is hopeful the NJTA or Gov. Phil Murphy might change their minds about the charging stations.

“We are still willing to invest in New Jersey Turnpike sites if the New Jersey Turnpike or Murphy want to reverse this decision. Otherwise, we will continue to build out the best possible infrastructure off the Turnpike to serve Tesla owners and the electric vehicle drivers of New Jersey.”

[+ PhileasFogg]

“We might not have it all together, but together we have it all.” – Dorothy Zbornak

[Lotus-eater]

9 hours ago, samhexum said:

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. ...Tesla also said that 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. 

Agreed. The move is anti-competitive and counterproductive. And for what? To make a stupid political point? Where is Lina Kahn when you need her?

Edited June 2 by Lotus-eater

[+ sync]

"Tit for Tat."

[mike carey]

Ladies and Gentlemen, this topic is about EV charging on the turnpike, not about Tesla vehicles. The article refers to a new contract for open access chargers suitable for all vehicles, not to any political motive for awarding the contract. Please take any discussions on the merits of the cars to a thread about them, and refrain from speculating on possible political reasons for the decision (or any other political comments). We've removed some comments that went down those tangents.