South 8 Technologies has begun operating a new semi-automated battery cell manufacturing line at its San Diego facility. The company said the line will support 5 MWh of annual cylindrical cell production in 2027, expanding its ability to supply defense and specialty markets that require reliable performance in extreme cold.
The line will manufacture South 8’s ARCTIC AE35 18650 lithium-ion cell, which uses the company’s proprietary LiGas liquefied gas electrolyte. According to South 8, the electrolyte enables reliable charging and discharging across a temperature range of −60 °C to +60 °C (−76 °F to +140 °F). Both the cells and the LiGas electrolyte will be produced at the San Diego facility.
The cells are intended for defense customers including 3ME Technology and Galvion. Both companies are commercializing LiGas-enabled battery solutions for defense and cold-weather applications, providing a path from cell qualification to production as South 8 increases manufacturing capacity through 2027.
South 8 has also established supplier agreements covering key cell materials and components. The company said it selected its supply chain to avoid reliance on foreign entities of concern. Domestic production of the cells and electrolyte is intended to provide customers with a pathway toward meeting applicable National Defense Authorization Act sourcing requirements after the relevant rules are finalized.
Target applications for batteries using the cells include unmanned systems, communications equipment, remote sensing systems, soldier power products and other equipment designed to operate in extreme environments. South 8 said the manufacturing expansion is intended to address both low-temperature battery performance and supply chain security requirements for these applications.
Source: businesswire.com
