Air-based battery promises 10 times the power

The project has received about £1.6m from the EPSRC. "This type of technology is a vital building block in the move towards the low carbon economy that the UK needs, and particularly in the move towards a more widespread use of electric vehicles," Jason Green, EPSRC head of energy, told ZDNet UK.

This image shows an early demonstration model of the battery technology, known as the Stair (St Andrews Air) cell.

According to the researchers, the new design could potentially improve the performance of portable electronic devices and provide a big boost to the renewable-energy industry. The researchers see a scenario in which the batteries will enable a constant electrical output from sources such as wind or solar. Also, the Stair cell could help power electric cars.