**New Jersey Turnpike Authority Replaces Tesla Superchargers with Universal EV Chargers**

In a surprising turn of events, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority has decided to phase out Tesla's Superchargers along the superhighway linking northern and southern New Jersey. As part of this move, 64 Tesla chargers will be removed from their current locations. The decision has sparked controversy, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk alleging corruption on social media, a claim which the Turnpike Authority firmly denies.

Tom Feeney, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, clarified the situation by explaining the partnership with Applegreen, the company responsible for managing the service areas on the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. According to Feeney, a 2023 amendment to this partnership agreement now includes provisions for installing 240 universal open-access EV chargers across these major highways. Feeney emphasized that Applegreen was deemed best suited for this task due to their existing operations of restaurants and travel marts on the Turnpike and Parkway.

The New Jersey Turnpike will start transitioning to these universal chargers on Friday. The new chargers will be available in all 21 Turnpike Authority service areas, unlike the Tesla chargers, which were limited to eight locations. These universal chargers, designed to accommodate all makes and models of electric vehicles, will be installed at the Vince Lombardi, Woodrow Wilson, Richard Stockton, James Fenimore Cooper, Joyce Kilmer, and Walt Whitman Service Areas from Friday.

Work is also underway to bring universal chargers online at three additional Turnpike locations. Completion is expected soon, with the Molly Pitcher Service Area slated for July and the Clara Barton and John Fenwick Service Areas anticipated to be operational by this fall.

Feeney highlighted that the shift to universal chargers aligns with the goal of enhanced accessibility for all electric vehicle owners, thus expanding usage beyond Tesla drivers. This strategic move is intended to support broader EV adoption by offering charging solutions to a wider range of vehicles across New Jersey's key travel routes.