Elon Musk Accuses New Jersey Turnpike of Corruption After Tesla's Unceremonious Kickoff
In a surprising turn of events, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) has ordered Tesla to decommission 64 Supercharger stalls along the state's busiest highway [1][2][5]. This decision comes after the NJTA chose not to renew Tesla's contract and instead opted for Applegreen Electric as the sole third-party charging provider for the highway.
Tesla was not permitted to co-locate its chargers with the new provider, forcing it to dismantle the existing Tesla Supercharger sites it had built there. However, Tesla has been preparing for this eventuality by opening 116 new Supercharger stalls off Turnpike exits to minimize inconvenience to its customers [1].
The implications for electric vehicle (EV) drivers in New Jersey include a disruption in Tesla Supercharging availability directly on the Turnpike. This decision is seen by many in the industry as a setback for EV infrastructure in New Jersey, as the removal of Tesla’s widely used proprietary chargers reduces charging options on a critical corridor for EV travel [1].
For New Jersey’s climate goals, this move could pose challenges by potentially slowing the ease of EV adoption. A comprehensive and accessible EV charging network is essential to supporting emissions reduction targets and encouraging more drivers to switch to electric vehicles. The exclusivity granted to Applegreen Electric might lead to less competition, potentially impacting the speed and efficiency of EV infrastructure development and deployment along the Turnpike, which is a key route in the state [1][5].
Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, has expressed concern over the situation, stating it sounds like corruption [3]. The decision to remove critical charging infrastructure by NJTA may raise questions about transparency in public contracting [4]. The identity of the charging provider awarded the exclusive contract by NJTA remains unknown.
The NJTA's decision sparked outrage among electric vehicle drivers, as Tesla's Superchargers on the New Jersey Turnpike have a 99.9% uptime and less than 1% congestion, numbers unmatched in the EV industry [2]. Despite Tesla's proposals to install its next-generation "Magic Dock" hardware, upgrade Turnpike locations with screens, faster hardware, and broader compatibility with the national charging standard, and even offer above-market commercial terms, the NJTA decided not to renew Tesla's contract [1][6].
Tesla is open to investing in Turnpike locations if NJTA or Governor Phil Murphy reverse their decision [1]. In the meantime, Tesla drivers will have to rely on off-ramp Superchargers, a change from the service plaza access they're used to. The controversy surrounding this decision continues to unfold within the EV community and industry observers [1][2].
References: [1] https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-superchargers-new-jersey-turnpike-decommissioned-applegreen-electric/ [2] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-told-remove-superchargers-new-jersey-turnpike-2021-05-28/ [3] https://www.electrek.co/2021/05/28/elon-musk-sounds-off-on-tesla-supercharger-removal-from-new-jersey-turnpike/ [4] https://www.nj.com/transportation/2021/05/nj-turnpike-authority-orders-tesla-to-remove-superchargers-on-new-jersey-turnpike.html [5] https://www.electricautonomy.com/tesla-superchargers-removed-from-new-jersey-turnpike-in-contract-dispute/ [6] https://www.electricautonomy.com/tesla-proposes-to-upgrade-new-jersey-turnpike-superchargers-before-removal/
- The New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) has ordered Tesla to decommission 64 Supercharger stalls, leading to concerns within the industry about EV infrastructure in New Jersey.
- Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, has expressed his concerns, suggesting that the decision might be a sign of corruption in public contracting.
- For EV drivers in New Jersey, this decision could lead to a disruption in Tesla Supercharging availability directly on the Turnpike, and they may now have to rely on off-ramp Superchargers.
- The exclusivity granted to Applegreen Electric as the sole third-party charging provider for the New Jersey Turnpike might impact the speed and efficiency of EV infrastructure development and deployment.
- Tesla is open to investing in Turnpike locations if NJTA or Governor Phil Murphy reverse their decision, but for now, the controversy surrounding this decision continues to unfold in the EV community and industry observers.
