The new technology is greener, too: Aside from energy, the main byproduct from the reaction is water. It’s also cheaper and easier to replace, opening the potential for batteries that can be refilled like a fuel tank or an ink cartridge. As one of the researchers put it, “Sugar is a perfect energy storage compound in nature, so it’s only logical that we try to harness this natural power in an environmentally friendly way to produce a battery.” I told my parents something similar once, but the jury’s apparently still out on eating candy bars for breakfast.