South Korea battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution has formed a strategic partnership with South 8 Technologies to jointly develop space-rated lithium-ion batteries optimized for extreme temperatures as low as -60° C.
South 8 Technologies is a US startup company that has developed a liquefied gas (LiGas) electrolyte, which is designed to enhance battery performance by enabling ultra-low temperature operation, outperforming conventional liquid electrolytes, which struggle below -20° C.
The two companies’ cooperation is part of a larger aerospace initiative involving KULR Technology and NASA to develop batteries for deep space missions that can withstand the harshest environments.
KULR, a provider of energy storage solutions for aerospace and defense, recently secured funding of $6.7 million from the Texas Space Commission to develop low-temperature lithium-ion battery solutions for lunar and Martian exploration missions. The program is being carried out in close collaboration with NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC).
LG Energy Solution aims to play a key role in this joint effort, supporting the design, testing and evaluation of lithium-ion battery cells. South 8 Technologies will then manufacture enhanced battery cells using its liquefied gas electrolyte and electrolyte filling technology. These cells will be integrated into KULR’s One Space battery architecture platform.
LG Energy Solution first connected with South 8 Technologies through its Startup Challenge Program in 2019 and has continued to collaborate with the startup. In 2024, the companies signed a joint development agreement and began the development of the liquefied gas electrolyte-based batteries. The latest agreement further cements the relationship between the two companies.
“The liquefied gas electrolyte technology fundamentally addresses the long-standing issues of battery performance degradation in extreme cold environments,” said Je Young Kim, CTO of LG Energy Solution. “We anticipate that this technology will unlock unprecedented possibilities to pioneer new products and applications including space.”
Source: LG Energy Solution
