Potato-powered walkman on the way

Article from: Agence France-Presse

Herald Sun, August 24, 2007 03:47pm

BREAD and potatoes are sources of human energy, and now a carbohydrate diet is also powering up a Walkman.

Japanese technological giant Sony, hoping to be eco-friendly, has developed a prototype battery cell that generates electricity from carbohydrates and sugar.

The test cells had achieved output of 50 milliwatts, enough to play music on a Walkman, Sony said.

In a demonstration yesterday, a Sony employee poured a sugary sports drink to power a music player and speakers.

The company said it came up with the battery by studying how living creatures generate energy.

Sugar batteries would biodegrade and the source material could be found in plants around the world.

Plants regenerated through photosynthesis, "underlining the potential for sugar-based bio batteries as an ecologically friendly energy device of the future", Sony said.

Sony said it would continue to develop the prototype and study ways to put it into practical use.

Sony, which changed the way the world listened to music with the Walkman, has vowed to rededicate itself to innovation after suffering a troubled patch with the success of Apple's iPod.

Sony was also hit last year by the recall of millions of laptop batteries over fears they could catch fire.