US-based South 8 Technologies and Australia’s 3ME Technology have signed a letter of intent to jointly develop an advanced lithium-ion battery tailored for defense missions in Arctic environments.
The partnership will combine South 8’s proprietary LiGas cell technology with 3ME Technology’s EdgeVOLT Cold Weather Variant energy storage platform. Together, the companies aim to deliver a next-generation power solution capable of supporting military operations that require dependable, ultra-safe, and portable energy in harsh and remote conditions.
LiGas and EdgeVOLT Capabilities
South 8’s LiGas battery cells, which will be supplied at production scale for the program, are engineered to operate in extreme temperatures ranging from -60 to 60 degrees Celsius (-76 to 149 degrees Fahrenheit). The cells use non-toxic, non-corrosive liquefied gas electrolytes that rapidly evaporate if punctured, reducing safety risks.
These characteristics, combined with rapid charging capability and cost-effective chemistry, make the technology suitable for defense, aerospace, and other high-demand applications.
Meanwhile, 3ME’s EdgeVOLT storage system is specifically designed to charge and discharge at temperatures as low as -60 degrees Celsius, overcoming the energy loss challenges that conventional batteries face in freezing environments. The system is integrated with the company’s BladeNET data management platform, enabling continuous performance monitoring.
Beyond Arctic defense missions, EdgeVOLT systems can also be deployed in maritime and mining operations.
