Look ma, no cords

One reason electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles have hit the market with a thud is that there are strings attached: drivers of models such as the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf must plug something in to recharge the battery. That's why a number of companies are developing ways to cut the cord, one of these being to replenish the battery wirelessly with a mat that sits on the floor. Coils on the underside of the car engage the charger when the car is parked over them. The mats are plugged in while the car isn't. This could be a great step towards reducing the amount of petrol we use over time (as well as the amount of money spent on petrol and the amount of petrol that gets stolen), and automakers and suppliers expect to have the chargers ready for sale around 2015. That's still a wee way away, but then one also won't have to worry about whether the plug that came with their car will fit the socket at a charging point overseas.