Scientists at Nanyang Technology University (NTU) say they have developed ultra-fast charging batteries that can be recharged up to 70 per cent in only two minutes and that last for 20 years.

The team says it has found a way to transform the titanium dioxide into tiny nanotubes, which are a thousand times thinner than the diameter of a human hair. This speeds up the chemical reactions taking place in the new battery, allowing for superfast charging.

The technology is currently being licensed by a company for eventual production. Prof Chen expects that the new generation of fast-charging batteries will hit the market in the next two years. It has the potential to be a key solution in overcoming longstanding power issues related to electro-mobility.