Have a look at this:
Better Place

It's a serious proposal, gaining some significant traction in places like Israel, Denmark and Hawaii.

The basic idea is that rather than charing the battery in situ, the battery is swapped out every time. Still takes slightly longer than filling up with Diesel (or Hydrogen), but much quicker than charging up your 'leccy Sinclair C5 equivalent.

Started by a chap called Shai Agassi, who's family company was bought out by SAP (if I remember right), and who was expected to do great things in the Software business until he got bitten by the green bug and decided to do something about things.

The idea was siezed on by Israel as a way of reducing their oil dependency on their friendly neighbours, and is also backed by partners like Renault.

I don't think it's perfect, and once again it depends on a massive infrastruction and vehicular change, but it is interesting, and it's got quite a lot of momentum now.
( Fireflier La la la la, not listening on, Tue 23 Dec 2008, 12:08, Reply)