Most of the AA/AAA battery units fall into the 'be seen' category, and while you can get rechargeable 'be seen' lights, the higher lumen lights that can illuminate the road ahead are typically rechargeable. I would put 300 lumen+ lights in the road-illuminating category. Higher lumens give you greater distance and/or a wider spread.

When I started commuting, I had an AAA Serfas light up front and a superflash in back. Well, that didn't do squat on road illumination- my neighborhood streetlights are few and far between and the potholes many. And I seemed to hit every one that I could not see... and the jarring broke off the rear blinkies- I lost three before deciding I wanted better than that.

Ok, rethink. I then got a Stella 150. Great helmet light- not enough to brighten those potholes but drivers had a better chance of seeing me. Good quality built light. However the higher lumen lights are big bucks. I then bought a Chinese light, the Magicshine. Claimed 900 lumen up front, and about 2 watts in back. Well, a battery recall and wires all over the bike linking both lights to the external battery had me looking again. I want all-in-one lights. And I am sick of cheap lights that fall off. I then found the Dinotte brand. German lights that are the bomb, but expensive. Can't afford the front, but the 200buck 3watt tail light- rechargeable and made of metal with a beefy mount, fit my needs so I bought it. It is as bright as a car brake light. Really. Visible a block away in daylight. Coupled with my Magicshine rear light, you would have to be blind to miss me.

Next, I came across the Nightrider Mininewt 600. While the spread is not as wide or as bright as the Magischine (which is a good light with it's new battery style if you don't mind cords and battery packs), but it's small and self contained. As it recharges USB, I can ride my 30 minutes to work and charge it if needed there. I still use the Magischine on longer night road or MTB rides, but for commuting I just use the Mininewt, it's plenty bright and I can see the potholes and sand mounds that washed down the hillside.