On November 12, LG Energy Solution announced the establishment of a strategic partnership with U.S. startup South8 Technologies for the research and development of battery cells tailored for aerospace applications. South8 is renowned for developing the world’s first liquefied gas electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries.
Unlike conventional liquid electrolytes, which struggle to function at temperatures around -20°C, South8’s liquefied gas electrolyte maintains stable performance at much lower temperatures. This innovative electrolyte can operate efficiently in extreme conditions below -60°C and significantly enhances battery safety against physical shocks and abrupt temperature changes.
This collaboration holds substantial significance as it is part of an aerospace project spearheaded by KULR Technology Group, a cutting-edge energy storage solutions company in the U.S. aerospace and defense sectors, and NASA. KULR, supported by research funding from the Texas Space Commission, is focused on developing low-temperature lithium-ion battery solutions for next-generation space exploration.
In this project, South8 and LG Energy Solution will jointly create battery cells that integrate liquefied gas electrolytes, associated electrolyte infusion technologies, and specialized enclosures. LG Energy Solution will oversee the design of next-generation battery cells tailored for cryogenic environments and conduct final performance evaluation and analysis of the batteries.
The partnership between LG Energy Solution and South8 began in 2019 through the Startup Challenge Program and has since evolved through continuous interaction. Last year, both companies formally entered a joint development agreement, marking the commencement of their collaborative efforts on liquefied gas electrolyte-based battery development. This latest agreement further strengthens their cooperative relationship.
Jay Kim, CTO and Senior Vice President of LG Energy Solution, stated, “Liquefied gas electrolyte technology is expected to fundamentally resolve the battery performance degradation issues encountered in cryogenic environments. Based on this innovation, we aim to create new customer value across various domains, including extreme temperature aerospace exploration.”
