This morning, I woke up to a message: I had been quoted in The New York Times about Tesla superchargers. This specific topic: One of the biggest E.V. infrastructure shake-ups on the East Coast.
New Jersey has officially started phasing out Tesla Superchargers along its major toll roads. This includes the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. Instead, they’re tripling the number of charging stations. They are also switching providers to install universal fast chargers. These chargers work for all electric vehicles, not just Tesla’s.
I have worked for New York State on green vehicle and transportation programs. Now, I educate communities across the country on clean transportation. I can tell you: this transition is crucial. Nevertheless, it’s also going to be bumpy.
“We’ll find out soon if there’s a charging problem on the highways,” I told The New York Times.
🚗 The Big Shake-Up: Tesla Out, Applegreen In
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority decided not to renew its contract with Tesla. Instead, the state selected Applegreen Electric, which will install universal chargers—ones compatible with older E.V. models and newer vehicles that use the North American Charging Standard (NACS).
That means:
60+ Tesla Superchargers are being replaced. 21 new fast charging stations will be live by the end of next year. Six are already open on the Turnpike, with three more online by fall 2025. Garden State Parkway, which earlier had no fast chargers, will get nine.
Thomas Feeney, a spokesman for the Turnpike Authority, said the move is about increasing access. “Our goal is to serve as many E.V. owners as possible across all our service areas,” he told The Times.
That makes sense. Tesla’s Supercharger network was a closed system until recently. But the E.V. world is rapidly changing.
🔌 Why It’s Complicated: Charging Chaos in Transition
Right now, we’re stuck in an in-because between moment. You’ve got:
Tesla Superchargers slowly opening up to other brands. Older chargers using CCS or CHAdeMO tech. Automakers switching to NACS (originally developed by Tesla). New cars that do not have the right plug yet. Charging stations that do not have the right cable either.
As I explained to The Times, “The problem involves an industry in transition.”
That transition? It’s not going to be over tomorrow. It’s going to take years.
So what should drivers do?
✅ What I Recommend to E.V. Drivers Right Now
To avoid the chaos and keep your car powered up:
Buy an adapter. If your E.V. doesn’t support NACS yet, or you regularly use CCS or CHAdeMO, a universal adapter is your new best friend. This one move can save you from huge wait times and detours. Map your routes in advance. Use apps like PlugShare, A Better Routeplanner, or the DOE’s E.V. charging station locator to confirm chargers before you hit the road. Expect growing pains. Even Tesla’s newly opened Superchargers for non-Tesla vehicles aren’t perfect yet. Compatibility, bugs, and power delivery quirks are still being worked out.
💬 Elon Musk Reacts
As expected, Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk had a few words about the move. On his platform, X, Musk posted:
“Sounds like corruption.”
No evidence was provided. And as The Times noted, Musk didn’t respond to requests for comment.
But his frustration isn’t surprising. Tesla invested heavily in building the country’s best fast-charging network—and for years, it worked beautifully for Tesla owners. Now, those exclusive lanes are opening up, and states like New Jersey are choosing universal access over brand loyalty.
🔋 What’s Next: Building a Real National Charging Network
This moment highlights a core issue in the electric vehicle world: range anxiety is back—but not because of car batteries.
It’s the patchwork of incompatible chargers across the U.S. that’s now the real issue. One state upgrades, another waits. One provider offers universal chargers, another sticks with legacy systems.
The hope is that a unified North American Charging Standard will change all that. Most automakers—from Ford and GM to Hyundai and Rivian—are already switching over. Tesla built it. Others are now adopting it.
And in New Jersey? Applegreen will install both old and new tech at stations, helping bridge the gap.
But again, this will take time. So I’ll repeat what I told The Times:
“The transition to a uniform charging standard will take years. I suggest drivers to get adapters if they don’t have them. It’ll cut down on wait times and frustration.”
📢 Why This Matters
New Jersey’s move isn’t just about one highway or one company. It’s a signal to the entire nation that E.V. charging must be inclusive, accessible, and reliable—no matter what car you drive.
If you’re an E.V. driver, you need to stay informed, prepared, and plugged in (pun intended). The charging infrastructure race is on—and it’s being built in real time.
📎 Read the Full Article in The New York Times
“Tesla Chargers Are Being Replaced on the New Jersey Turnpike” – NYT, June 3, 2025
Follow me on social media @GreenLivingGuy. And if you’ve had issues or wins with charging stations in your travels—drop me a message. Let’s keep this conversation going.
Posted: June 2025, By Seth Leitman, The Green Living Guy
