Press Release
South 8 Awarded $1.6M U.S. Army Contract to Prototype Military Battery Packs for Extreme Climates
January 8, 2025
Together with a battery cell manufacturer and pack integrator, South 8 will develop a standardized BB-2590 battery pack for military applications in all environments
SAN DIEGO, CA – January 8, 2025 – South 8 Technologies (South 8), the developer of LiGas®, a liquefied gas electrolyte for advanced lithium-ion batteries, announced today that the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) C5ISR Center has awarded a $1.6 million contract to a team of companies led by South 8 to demonstrate standardized lithium-ion battery packs for defense applications. South 8 is partnering with a battery cell manufacturer and a leading vendor of battery packs to deliver prototypes that will offer a broad operating temperature range and high performance in extreme cold environments to the U.S. Army.
The standardized battery pack will contain 24 of South 8’s Arctic™ LiGas 18650 cells. South 8’s LiGas is a liquefied gas electrolyte that dramatically improves the energy performance, safety, charging speed, and cost of Li-ion batteries, providing high performance in extreme cold weather. Since LiGas alleviates many common concerns associated with Li-ion batteries, the prototype battery packs will be more capable than traditional packs and ideal for various military applications including radios, communication systems, and night vision goggles in any extreme climate.
“We are grateful to have continued support from the U.S. Army DEVCOM C5ISR Center to develop improved Li-ion battery systems that can power military devices during critical missions in cold climates,” said Rusty Heffner, Vice President of Strategy at South 8. “This prototyping effort brings us one step closer to qualifying LiGas battery cells in a standardized battery pack that will provide a unique capability to the U.S. military, especially units that are deployed in the Arctic.”
This new effort follows two other projects for South 8 this year with the U.S. Army’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) as part of its Family of Advanced Standard Batteries (FAStBat) program. Under the first $6.4 million contract, South 8 is collaborating with NanoGraf to deliver higher energy, safer, and higher-performing batteries for soldiers by developing a high-rate injection system for its LiGas electrolyte that will bolster domestic production of Li-ion batteries. South 8 and NanoGraf are also working alongside Pale Blue Earth as part of another contract to prototype the first Operational Single Cell for Accessory Readiness (OSCAR) batteries that to provide sustainable, rechargeable energy storage that is domestically-produced and that reduces the battery burden on soldiers in the field.
To learn more about South 8 and its LiGas liquefied gas electrolyte and LiGas battery cells, please visit www.south8.com.
About South 8 Technologies
South 8 is redefining lithium-ion battery performance with LiGas®, the world’s first liquefied gas electrolyte. Safer and more adaptable than conventional solutions, LiGas delivers exceptional reliability across extreme environments—operating from -60 °C to +60 °C at full charge. Available as finished cells or electrolyte integration kits, LiGas technology supports defense, aerospace, and electric mobility sectors. Headquartered in San Diego, California, South 8 is re-imagining where lithium-ion can go with patented solutions designed for performance when and where it matters most.
Media Contact
Layne Bashor
Senior Business Development Manager, South 8
[email protected]