Fuel cell batteries which use sugar as a source of energy could be ready for commercialisation in three to five years, according to researchers at St Louis University in the US.
Researchers at the University have developed a fuel cell which runs on virtually any sugar source, from soft drinks to tree sap. They claim it has the potential to operate three to four times longer on a single charge than conventional lithium ion batteries. The fuel 
cells could be used for equipment such as mobile phones, laptops and other devices which use battery packs.
Shelley Minteer, study leader and an electrochemist at the University, said she has been using a postage-stamp-sized prototype of the battery to run a handheld calculator.
Minteer claims the University’s version is the longest-lasting and most powerful sugar-fuelled cell battery developed so far. The battery is also biodegradable.
“This study shows that renewable fuels can be directly employed in batteries at room temperature, to lead to more energy-efficient battery technology than metal-based approaches,” said Minteer. “It demonstrates that by bridging biology and chemistry, we can build a better battery that’s also cleaner for the environment.”
Further development work is being funded by the US Department of Defence. This includes operation in varying environmental conditions, including high temperatures, and extending the life of the battery.