South 8 Technologies, which claims to be the first to develop and commercialise a liquefied gas electrolyte for advanced lithium-ion batteries, LiGas, has introduced a new Arctic LiGas 18650 battery cell.
Unveiled at the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference (AABC), the San Diego-based company said the cells operate at low temperatures. South 8 CEO Tom Stepien – who joined the company earlier this month – said: “Arctic LiGas cells solve these ‘fire and ice’ problems by minimising thermal propagation with a non-toxic blend of gases that dissipate harmlessly when punctured or overheated.
“Arctic cells have the industry’s lowest operating temperature, providing energy down to -60°C (-76°F).” That helps customers operate safely and efficiently in new environments and applications, he added.
Co-founder and chief technology officer Jungwoo Lee said the company has been delivering the cells to battery manufacturers and end users for validation.
The company claims 23 patents in seven countries and jurisdictions. Its investors include Anzu Partners, LG Technology Ventures, Shell Ventures, Foothill Ventures, Taiyo Nippon Sanso and Lockheed Martin Ventures.
