LG Energy Solution, a major South Korean battery company, announced on Wednesday a new partnership with South 8, a U.S. startup. They will work together to create special lithium-ion batteries for use in space. This deal marks LG Energy Solution’s entry into the aerospace battery market, which requires technologies that can withstand harsh conditions, such as extremely cold temperatures.
South 8 Technologies, founded in 2013, produces a key battery material, an electrolyte. TIME magazine named LiGas, the world’s first liquefied gas electrolyte, one of the Best Inventions of 2024. This unique LiGas replaces the usual liquid in lithium-ion batteries. It lets them work reliably down to minus 60 degrees Celsius, a huge step up from regular liquid electrolytes that struggle below minus 20 degrees Celsius.
LiGas also makes batteries much safer. If a battery gets damaged, the liquid inside quickly turns to gas and escapes. This cools the battery cell, effectively turning it into a nonfunctional “dummy cell,” greatly reducing fire risk. LiGas batteries also burn for a shorter time compared to traditional ones if they do catch fire.
This partnership is part of a larger space project. KULR Technology Group and NASA are also involved, aiming to develop battery solutions for deep space missions where it’s incredibly cold. Both LG Energy Solution and South 8 are contributing.
As part of their agreement, LG Energy Solution will help design, test, and check the battery cells. South 8 Technologies will then make these improved cells using its LiGas technology. KULR’s “One Space” battery platform will then put these cells together to perform best in the extreme conditions of space.
Kim Je-young, LG Energy Solution’s Chief Technology Officer, explained that this liquefied gas electrolyte technology solves the old problem of batteries losing power in extreme cold. He believes this will open many new doors, including exciting uses in space. LG Energy Solution first connected with South 8 through a program in 2019 and began developing these batteries in 2024.
