When electrification of transport is discussed, many forget that transport of goods is one of the biggest chunks of this issue. To get freight on the rail is one solution. Here is another candidate, which wants to combine the advantages of electrified transportation that needs no batteries with the flexibility that freight trucks provide (because they can in fact go from any A to any B, without reloading the freight in between).

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-an-electrifying-freigh...

"Los Angeles may be one of the first global cities to adopt a new electric freight trucking system, unveiled by electrical engineering giant Siemens Corp. last week at the 26th Electric Vehicle Symposium, or EVS26."

"The eHighway’s so-called catenary system uses diesel hybrid trucks outfitted with software that senses when an overhead electrical line is available and automatically connects or disconnects as needed. When the trucks’ rooftop connectors are attached to the electrical lines, the trucks run entirely on electricity. When the connectors are lowered, they run on a hybrid electric propulsion system similar to the Toyota Prius. In hybrid mode, the trucks save 30% on diesel fuel."

"But there is a downside: Siemens estimates the system will cost between $5 million and $7 million per mile to build."

Edit: It is being discussed in Germany now, as well. http://www.welt.de/wirtschaft/article106407548/Oberleitungen-fuer-Lkw-auf-deu...
Costs: 14 billions