The discharge characteristics of silver vanadium oxide (SVO) as a cathode in lithium–silver vanadium oxide (Li–SVO) primary battery was studied under various operating conditions. The cathode yielded a capacity of 260 mAh g−1 at a current density of 0.08 mA cm−2, although the theoretical capacity of this material is 315 mAh g−1. The pulse discharge characteristics were studied under conditions that simulate battery operation inside an implantable cardio-verter defibrillator (ICD). The variation of the ohmic resistance of the system was studied as a function of depth of discharge. Rate capability and impedance studies indicated high diffusion limitations for this system especially at high depth of discharge. Morphological changes during discharge were also discussed using scanning electron microscopic studies.