It's all biomimicry from the dug-out canoe to the iron horse. It's just that we're getting better at it.
None better than
Ross Lovegrove.
It's sort-of-on-topic because he envisions electric cars impaled on power poles and erected to serve as street lights when they're not in use.
Edit: It turns out he's done a collaboration with Renault, the Twin'Z concept.
http://www.gizmag.com/ross-lovegrove...t-twinz/26980/