The "quick drop" system was supposed to remove one of the main obstacles to the adoption of electric vehicles, namely the several hours it takes to recharge a flat battery.

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It is normally discovered only when a shave is vital or a flat battery urgently needs a recharge to enable recordings to continue.

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"The company makes a system called PosiCharge, basically a fuel pump to recharge an electric battery, " writes Brendan Coffey, editor of Cabot Green Investor.

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The Volt also will have a small gas engine onboard to recharge the battery for trips of more than 40 miles.

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The built-in USB connection can also recharge the camcorder's battery, eliminating the need to transport a separate charger while on-the-go.

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Poor battery life and the need to recharge smart phones often remain a huge pain for consumers.

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Anyone who's had to recharge an EV -- or, for that matter, any mobile device with a very big battery -- knows the pain of waiting for hours while a lithium-ion pack tops up.

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The battery capacity is poor, which translates to maybe a three or four hour useable life before recharge, especially if WiFi is turned on.

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