Ferndale, just outside Detroit's city limit, has been one of the communities to install public charging stations for EV use. This is nice, since Ferndale is frequently a destination for drunken revelers and people watchers, amongst other activities. It also has the reputation of being environmentally conscious, with its recently installed bike lanes and the yearly Green Cruise. It would be no surprise then, if Ferndale had embraced the electric car.
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| Conveniently hidden in a large city lot. |
Unfortunately, the embrace is more of a cool nod in the EV's general direction. Ferndale's charging stations are limited to two single-plug units, one on each side of Woodward ave, near 9 mile road. Both are Blink units located within city lots that require you to pay while parked, but at least the spaces are marked for EV use only.
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| One station near the Library, card required. |
A simple task like catching a record release at the Loving Touch, or buying some cookies from that ornery chef at Pinwheel Bakery, turns into an epic charging misadventure. First you must find the Blink card, by visiting City Hall during business hours - the card costs $5. Card in hand, you start the scavenger hunt for the poorly marked charging station, hoping the single spot allocated isn't taken by someone going to an all day event at Affirmations. And even after all this, the charger may not work since your card is not activated, as has happened to me.
I have yet to pursue getting the card activated, because finding it in the first place was enough frustration for one day.
Grade: C -
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