It has a bright red stalk, a scrawny yellow leaf and is sweeter than the greener outdoor variety of which many Britons have bitter school-dinner memories.

ECONOMIST: Rhubarb, newbarb

His Nissan Leaf has a sat nav-like screen which lists charging points - but it's far from comprehensive.

BBC: Leading the charge on electric cars

When in leaf it's easier to spot because it seems as if the foliage has been damaged by a severe frost and turns limp and black.

BBC: The heartbreak of watching the slow death of ash trees

Randy Stanley, who recently leased a Nissan Leaf and has a bumper sticker declaring, "This machine starves terrorists, " calls it a "chicken-or-the-egg" scenario -- charging stations won't pop up unless there's demand, but some drivers are reluctant to get an electric car until they see more public stations.

CNN: Public charging stations fuel desire for electric cars