Guess there is a lot going on in engineering that we don't keep up with! Amazing stuff based on stuff we already know but never had reason to experiment with in such a way.... Check out WiTricity (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiTricity):
The term WiTricity was used for a project that took place at MIT,...The researchers successfully demonstrated the ability to power a 60 watt light bulb wirelessly, using two 5-turn copper coils of 60 cm (24 in) diameter, that were 2 m (7 ft) away, at roughly 45% efficiency.[4] The coils were designed to resonate together at 9.9 MHz (≈ wavelength 30 m) and were oriented along the same axis. One was connected inductively to a power source, and the other one to a bulb. The setup powered the bulb on, even when the direct line of sight was blocked using a wooden panel. Researchers were able to power a
60 watt light bulb at roughly 90% efficiency at a distance of 3 feet. The research project was spun off into a private company, also called WiTricity......In April 27, 2011, car maker Toyota made an investment in WiTricity.
Key thing seems to be higher freq and resonant coils to catch 90%+ of the field!
my old vette has less than 5" clearance; the electric equinox conversion is probably 6" to the batteries too....
As a young kid of 12 I lite up a 4 foot florescent bulb for friends a foot from my Heathkit 200watt 40 meter dipole in my attic.. sure wish I knew how to spell patent back then.