Maybe... Crowd Source!!
How about they design the meters to accept both coins or fresh batteries?
There'd be a slot, the user inserts a fresh 9v battery (optionally, instead of coins), they turn a handle, the machine measures the newly offered battery and issues appropriate credit. Inside, the crowd sourced batteries would be in a revolving tray that turns as required to keep the meter powered.
Only problem in Detroit would be buying batteries in the burned out downtown core of a burned out city.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
