Although the idea has been around since the 19th century courtousey of Nikola Tesla, recent efforts in wireless energy transmission have yielded some exciting results. Science researchers in the States have successfully transmitted electrical power to a 60W bulb, without it being plugged into a power source. The phenomena of resonance and the use of low frequency electromagnectic wave transmission has potential to charge our laptops without them being plugged in.
Maybe electric bicycles powered by street side 'Power Transmitters' is the way forward. Standby for papers on the physiological effect of intense low frequecy electromagnectic radiation exposure...