Soldier system specialist Galvion announced on 6 November 2025 that it has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with South 8 Technologies: a San Diego-based innovator redefining lithium-ion battery performance with its patented LiGas cell technology.
The LoI represents a shared commitment between two companies to “push the boundaries of battery performance through focused research and product development”, Galvion stated.
Under the LoI Galvion and South 8 will explore opportunities for joint development and commercialisation of battery solutions that take full advantage of the South 8 LiGas cells’ wide temperature discharging and recharging capabilities as well as improved safety characteristics.
The LoI establishes the framework for co-operative innovation, knowledge exchange and field-focused testing to accelerate customers’ operational readiness in sub-zero temperatures. The initial scope of the work is guided by the urgent needs of defence customers in the United States and Northern Europe seeking improved battery performance in climates with extreme temperatures. By leveraging South 8’s LiGas cell technology and aligning research and development capabilities, the collaboration seeks to demonstrate next-generation battery systems capable of operating reliably in Arctic conditions, with sustained temperatures as low as -60°C (-76°F).
Todd Stirtzinger, CEO of Galvion, was quoted in a company press release as stating, “We have spent over a decade driving innovations in power provision and management to provide solutions that can adapt to the ever-changing operational needs of the modern warfighter. Arctic readiness is a new reality and partnering with South 8 allows us to explore battery technology that is specifically engineered to cope better with the challenges of extreme cold environments.
“We see a lot of opportunity in combining South 8’s LiGas cell technology with our field-proven SoloPack battery family so we can provide defence customers with energy solutions that further enhance resilience, reliability, and mission readiness in extreme environments,” Stirtzinger added.
South 8 Technologies COE Jungwoo Lee stated, “At South 8 we are redefining what is possible for lithium-ion performance in the harshest environments. This LoI with Galvion represents an exciting step toward enabling reliable energy storage in extreme cold applications where conventional batteries struggle. By integrating our LiGas cells, customers like Galvion can deliver unmatched performance and resilience, supporting critical missions in the world’s most demanding conditions.”
