General Motors (NYSE: GM) announced the acquisition of ALGOLiON, an Israeli startup specializing in battery software. The purchase price was not disclosed. The expertise and pioneering patents from ALGOLiON's founders will enhance GM's ability to quickly introduce a cost-effective early hazard detection system on a grand scale, benefiting GM's global customer base.
Founded in 2014 by Dr. Niles Fleischer and Dr. Alex Nimberger, ALGOLiON developed a sophisticated software suite that can detect irregularities in electric vehicle (EV) battery performance. The technology, designed to ensure vehicle health management, can also predict potential battery hazards, such as thermal runaway propagation events.
The acquisition was orchestrated by General Motor's newly established Technology Acceleration and Commercialization (TAC) team, which seeks out emerging technologies that will help consolidate GM's prominence in battery development via investments, acquisitions, or partnerships.
ALGOLiON's software operates on complex algorithms, capable of detecting minor shifts that might affect battery health weeks before current methods, and without the need for additional hardware or sensors. This ensures that the battery maintains optimal performance.
The team at ALGOLiON, including the company's founders, will continue to operate from Israel, joining the GM Technical Center in Herzliya. The center, 850 employees, focuses on software and algorithms, machine learning, Software Defined Vehicles, cybersecurity, and user applications for autonomous, electric, and connected vehicles. These areas of expertise play a pivotal role in driving the future of mobility, further solidifying GM’s global ambition for a world with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion.
A number of other Israeli startups operate in the EV and battery technology sector alongside ALGOLiON, including Addionics and StoreDot.
