Galvion testing a LiGas cell from South 8 in cold weather.

Galvion and South 8 sign LOI for Arctic power

Galvion has signed a letter of intent with a company called South 8 to develop lithium batteries that work in temperatures as cold as -60° C. This could be an important development for NATO’s Arctic forces.  

Temperatures in the Arctic can drop to as low as -34°C and will average -12 to -6°C. For the armed forces of the US, Canada, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, this is a problem. They all have Arctic land territories, many of which are within reach of Russia and so need to be patrolled and policed. Fortunately, they all have well-equipped and trained militaries with specialised units capable of operating in the extreme cold. Unfortunately for them, modern concepts of operations focus on power-hungry systems like drones, radios, and computer-based sights. Many of these systems rely on lithium ion batteries, which provide a balance of energy density and efficiency, but lithium ion batteries have a problem: battery life can drop by as much as 50% in cold weather. 

Cold temperatures impede lithium-ion battery performance because they slow down the internal chemical reactions necessary to generate current and increase the internal resistance (impedance). The liquid electrolyte becomes more viscous, hindering the rapid movement of lithium ions, and the ions’ ability to diffuse into the electrodes is reduced. This results in a noticeable loss of capacity and a significant voltage drop under load. Furthermore, charging the battery in freezing temperatures is dangerous because it can cause lithium plating, where metallic lithium deposits on the anode, permanently reducing capacity and creating safety risks.

The practical impact of this poor performance is significant for soldiers. It means they have to find ways to warm their batteries or carry additional spares than they would normally do. This can add to an overall logistical burden that is already challenging in Arctic conditions.

So, with all of this in mind, let’s turn to the recently announced partnership between Galvion and South 8. We have covered Galvion frequently, they provide a range of soldier-carried systems and follow a soldier-first design process. One of their systems is BATLCHRG, a wireless charging mat for UAVs, and the company has also developed cold weather battery packs. But the new letter of intent, announced on November 6th, aims to take that technology to extremes. 

“By leveraging South 8’s LiGas cell technology and aligning R&D 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),” the press release states. For reference, a battery under a high load can lose 50% of its capacity at temperatures of 0°C due to high internal resistance, so the two companies have an ambitious target. 

Key to that appears to be South 8’s patented technology. The plan is to use LiGas technology from South 8, which the company states addresses the lithium “fire and ice problem.” It uses a liquefied gas for the electrolyte, instead of liquid, which retains a low viscosity when very cold. Think back to the top of the article, this means the ions can continue to move quickly, maintaining the charge. Tests have shown that LiGas cells can maintain 75% of their capacity at -40°C, while conventional lithium batteries can drop to zero capacity at -20°C, according to South 8. Finally, as a gas, the LiGas electrolyte rapidly disperses if the cell is pierced, which reduces the time that a cell might burn for when compared with conventional lithium. Galvion will combine the LiGas cell technology with its SoloPack battery family, which is already in service and has been developed to some extent for cold weather use. 

Calibre comment: Why does this matter?

Soldiers are increasingly weighed down with equipment. On current trajectories, it is likely that western troops will deploy with drone detectors and jammers, as well as new sights for an organic C-UAS capability. This will be added to body armour, ammunition, assault rifles, radios, and the many other things soldiers tend to take with them. A lot of work is underway to make sure that weight is kept to a manageable minimum, and removing the need for additional batteries logically stands as one route to that for Arctic operations.

And to be clear, there are real challenges in the Arctic. Russia has steadily militarised the parts of the Arctic that it can reach. Until 2022, it had two specialised Arctic brigades – the 200th and 80th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigades. They were well-equipped and spent a lot of their time training and living in the Arctic. Russia’s special forces have historically used the area to manoeuvre and create challenges for countries in the region, especially Finland. So, making sure that our armed forces can fight there – especially those that are expected to – is key. 

By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on November 7th, 2025. The lead image shows a test of the LiGas technology. Credit: Galvion.

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