In a decision sparking outrage among electric vehicle drivers, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) has ordered Tesla to decommission 64 Supercharger stalls along the state’s busiest highway, despite Tesla’s offer to expand and upgrade its charging infrastructure.
On May 30, @TeslaCharging revealed that NJTA had awarded an exclusive contract to a single unnamed charging provider—refusing to allow Tesla to continue operating or co-locate on the Turnpike. The decision forces the shutdown of Tesla’s widely used Superchargers at service plazas throughout the route, which currently boast a 99.9% uptime and less than 1% congestion—numbers unmatched in the EV industry.
Tesla says it offered above-market commercial terms and even proposed to install its next-generation “Magic Dock” hardware that allows both Tesla and non-Tesla vehicles to charge. It also offered to fully upgrade Turnpike locations with screens, faster hardware, and broader compatibility with the national charging standard.
Despite that, NJTA has shut the door—literally—on the EV leader.
“This removes Turnpike access to the most reliable, least congested, and most cost-effective charging in the state,” Tesla said. The company added that the decision runs counter to New Jersey’s own climate goals, which call for 100% zero-emission new car sales by 2035.
Tesla has been preparing for this potential roadblock for three years, opening 116 new Supercharger stalls off Turnpike exits to avoid disruption for drivers. Still, the move represents a major shift—away from consumer choice and toward exclusivity that may raise questions about transparency in public contracting.
Tesla didn’t mince words about the implications: “NJTA’s decision to remove, rather than add, critical charging infrastructure is a setback for New Jersey’s EV adoption goals.”
CEO Elon Musk took it a step further on X, responding to the news with a terse remark: “Sounds like corruption.”
Tesla says it remains open to investing in Turnpike locations if NJTA or Governor Phil Murphy reverse course. For now, Tesla drivers will have to rely on off-ramp Superchargers—convenient, but a far cry from the service plaza access they’re used to.
