Revolutionary petrol engine could sound the death knell for batteries

A TEAM of scientists have invented a revolutionary type of petrol engine just a few millimetres wide which could soon replace conventional batteries, it emerged yesterday.

The minute micro-engines developed by a team from the University of Birmingham need just a squirt of lighter fluid to get them running.

They have 300 times more energy than standard batteries and will be able to charge up mobile phones and lap-top computers in a matter of seconds.