As electric cars become more common the short ranges and long recharge times become more obvious problems. Further developments in battery technology should improve this situation only slowly, if we can judge by the last 25 years of battery research progress.
One answer is quick swap battery packs that can be changed by automated machinery placed at gas stations and other locations, but that's likely to be a problem for people used to tanking up every 300-350 miles.
A better approach may be the one that a Stanford University research team is studying. Their system uses inductive coupling to power vehicles as they drive down major highways.
http://phys.org/news/2012-02-wireless-power-revolutionize-highway.html Range will be unlimited so long as you stay on main routes and you'd recharge for local driving during your commute. As a bonus the system could easily be modified to keep vehicles on path and at the proper speed, with the potential to space them more closely for added fuel economy (reduced wind resistance), as well as allowing a greater volume of traffic to flow safely during peak periods.
The big challenge will be generating enough power to electrify major roads, with each car needing as much as 10 kilowatts of power and trucks perhaps 30-40 kilowatts. Electric motors are over 90% efficient compared to around 25% for internal combustion engines. Combined cycle electric generating plants approach 60% efficiency so allowing 7-10% losses for transmission and inductive coupling still leaves this system twice as efficient as conventional vehicles.The comparison will improve steadily as alternatives and next generation nuclear power grow. Electric highways are a logical path to pursue if we are really serious about getting away from fossil fuels.
