Low temperature performance of lithium/silver vanadium oxide cells

Lithium/silver vanadium oxide cells for low temperature applications have been developed. Prismatic and spirally wound AA cells were tested under constant load discharge of 0.3 to 1.8 amps or pulse discharge of 0.225 or 1.0 amps at temperatures from -40 to 25°C. At -40°C with current densities of 2.5 mA/cm², 23% of theoretical capacity was achieved under constant load discharge and 40% of theoretical capacity was achieved under pulse test. Self-discharge estimates of 0.7% per year at 25°C were obtained from microcalorimetry. Preliminary safety testing of the cells revealed no violent performance under short circuit or crush tests