For years battery technology has been driven by the needs of laptop computers and mobile phones. But the widespread expectation that vehicles will run partly or wholly on electrical power in the future means the search is now on for a battery that is powerful, light and compact enough.

Also in this Technology Quarterly report:

Rational consumer: Real-time electricity meters - Prepare for a nasty shock

Cochlear implants: Sounds like a good idea - The upgrader's dilemma

Software bugtraps: In code we trust - Better tools for programmers

Case history: In search of the perfect battery - New batteries required

Pico-projectors: Looking at the bigger picture - A big screen in your pocket?

Internet wiretapping: Easier said than done - Why tapping calls online is hard

Brain scan: From palmtops to brain cells - A profile of Jeff Hawkins, creator of the Palm Pilot