General Motors boosts EV battery technology with ALGOLiON acquisition

General Motors (GM) made a significant move in the electric vehicle (EV) sector, announcing today its acquisition of most of the assets of ALGOLiON, a battery software startup based in Israel.

The specifics of the transaction, including the acquisition amount, were not disclosed.

The acquisition was facilitated by General Motors‘ Technology Acceleration and Commercialization (TAC) organization. This newly formed group within GM is committed to identifying innovative technology to maintain GM’s leadership in battery development, either through acquisitions, investments, or partnerships.

Gil Golan — General Motors TAC vice president said: “ALGOLiON has developed cutting edge battery analytics and prediction software that will help General Motors deliver great performing EVs for our customers.”

ALGOLiON, founded in 2014 by Niles Fleischer and Alex Nimberger received early support from the Israeli Innovation Authority. The company is recognized for its advanced software that uses data from EV battery management systems. This technology allows the detection of anomalies in cell performance, enabling proactive vehicle health management and the early identification of potential battery risks, including thermal runaway propagation events.

General Motors acquires Israel-based ALGOLiON to boost EV battery technology. Photo courtesy of Ritcheypro/Wikimedia Commons.

Fleischer brings over 40 years of experience in the battery industry and more than 80 patents, while Nimberger boasts a comprehensive background in military and civilian lithium-ion battery operation and effects analysis.

Niles Fleischer said: “The ALGOLiON team is excited to join GM on its track to an all-electric vehicle future.

“We found the right home for our technology to play an integral role in maintaining healthy batteries for exciting products and reach customers globally.”

In combination with General Motors’ internal capabilities and vast experience in delivering top-tier products at scale, ALGOLiON’s software could considerably expedite the development of a cost-effective early hazard detection system. This system would be beneficial to General Motors’ millions of customers worldwide, capable of detecting minute changes impacting battery health weeks earlier than current methods, without the need for additional hardware or sensors.

The ALGOLiON team, including its founders, will continue to operate in Israel, joining over 850 employees at the General Motors Technical Center in Herzliya, Israel, under the leadership of Guy Daniely, senior engineering manager.

The Israeli center, GM Israel, is a crucial component of General Motors’ Global Product Development Group, contributing to General Motors’ vision for a future characterized by zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion.

The center focuses on developing advanced technologies, including software and algorithms, machine learning, Software Defined Vehicles, cyber security, and user-facing applications for autonomous, electric, and connected vehicles shaping the future of mobility.