The automotive cig lighter has become a kind of lingua-franca for chargers of all descriptions — this CNN piece calls it "the new cup-holder." The same thing is happening in USB: I charge virtually all of my devices (phones, PDA, etc) with retractable ZipLinq USB cables these days — sure makes travelling easier.
In model-year 2004, there are 47 vehicles that come, standard, with five or six lighter sockets, according to Carsdirect.com. In 1998, no vehicles came with that many…
The Pink Pussycat Boutique, an "adult novelty" store in Manhattan, sells a variety of devices that can be plugged into car cigarette lighter sockets. We'll go no farther.
If you get a flat tire, Safetycentral.com sells a 12-volt impact wrench for removing lug nuts. Among other car lighter-friendly devices the site sells are a 20 oz. coffee pot, a frying pan, an oven, a curling iron, an electric cooler and a special adapter so you can plug multiple devices into one lighter. That way you can make breakfast, curl your hair, run your impact wrench and maybe light a cigarette while you wait for your beer to get cold.
