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.

WSJ: Electric-Battery Startup Better Place to Fold

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

BBC: A universal plug socket... at last?

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

FORBES: Drones Today, Electric Cars Tomorrow?

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

WSJ: Obama's Car Puzzle

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

ENGADGET: Samsung's PMA gifts: HD pocket camcorders, point-and-shoots with AMOLED screens

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

FORBES: Tin: The Secret To Improving Lithium-Ion Battery Life

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.

ENGADGET: Korean carbon-coated lithium-ion battery could cut recharge times down to minutes

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

FORBES: Why You Want The Microsoft Surface Pro (And Why You Don't)

What matters for all-electric vehicles as opposed to hybrids, such as the Chevrolet Volt, due in 2010, which can fall back on a petrol engine when the battery runs out are their limited range and the time taken to recharge their batteries.

ECONOMIST: Renault-Nissan's ambitious plans for all-electric cars