Charge propagation is surprisingly difficult to describe in quantum field theory. Even in the abelian theory, where the spectre of confinement is avoided, the persistent interaction of the electron with its environment leads to deep theoretical problems. There is, though, an exactly solvable model of an electron in a plane wave background (the so called Volkov solution) that provides an attractive arena for testing ideas related to the more general propagation problem.  In this talk I will review some of the  recent results we have derived concerning charges propagating in an elliptical class of backgrounds, and outline how to incorporate loop corrections. Some of the lessons learnt from this will be discussed in the context of the more general problems that arise when charges propagate.