Toshiba has developed a new form of Lithium-ion battery that can charge up to 80 per cent capacity in less than a minute.

The battery uses specially engineered particles less than 100 nanometres across that store vast amounts of lithium ions, without causing any deterioration in its electrodes. This allows a full recharge to be achieved in less than 10 minutes.

"Toshiba will bring the new rechargeable battery to commercial products in 2006," said a spokesman.

"Initial applications will be in the automotive and industrial sectors, where the slim, small-sized battery will deliver large amounts of energy while requiring only a minute to recharge.

"For example, the battery's advantages in size, weight and safety highly suit it for a role as an alternative power source for hybrid electric vehicles."

The new design has other advantages over conventional battery technologies. It loses permanent charge at a very slow rate, less than one per cent per 1,000 recharges, and operates at between -40 and +45 degrees Celsius.