General Motors (GM) has made a significant move by acquiring the majority of ALGOLiON Ltd’s assets, a battery software startup based in Israel. The acquisition, announced on Friday, aims to utilize ALGOLiON’s cutting-edge technology to identify irregularities in cell performance and ensure optimal battery health in GM’s electric vehicles (EVs).
ALGOLiON, founded in 2014 by renowned battery experts Dr. Niles Fleischer and Dr. Alex Nimberger, has successfully developed AlgoShield, an innovative battery hazard detection and prevention software. Using proprietary quantitative algorithms, AlgoShield can detect even the most minute changes in EV battery health weeks in advance, without the need for additional hardware or sensors.
GM’s objective in incorporating this new technology is to introduce an early EV battery hazard detection system for its vast customer base worldwide. This strategic acquisition, the financial details of which remain undisclosed, was led by GM’s newly established Technology Acceleration and Commercialization (TAC) organization. TAC focuses on identifying emerging technologies that can support GM’s advancements in battery development.
Expressing his enthusiasm about the acquisition, Dr. Fleischer stated, “The ALGOLiON team is excited to join GM on its path toward an all-electric vehicle future. We have found the perfect home for our technology, which will play a pivotal role in maintaining robust battery health for exciting products and reaching customers across the globe.”
This news comes at a time when several automakers, including GM, Stellantis, and Toyota, are actively striving to expand their EV battery development and production capabilities. The recent surge of announcements in the industry highlights the importance of staying ahead in the electrification race.
While the ALGOLiON employees will continue to operate from their base in Israel, they will join the existing team of more than 850 professionals at the GM Technical Training Center in Herzliya, Israel. This team specializes in machine learning, software-defined vehicles, cybersecurity, and user-facing solutions for autonomous and electric vehicles.
GM has also recently unveiled plans for its fourth EV battery plant, a collaboration with Samsung SDI, which is estimated to cost $3 billion. Once all four plants are operating at full capacity, GM anticipates having a remarkable battery cell capacity of over 130 GWh. These battery cells will power GM’s upcoming lineup of EVs built on its advanced Ultium platform.
In the near future, GM is set to launch three new Ultium electric models by the end of this year: the Silverado EV, Blazer EV, and Equinox EV. These additions to GM’s EV portfolio demonstrate the company’s commitment to accelerating the adoption of sustainable transportation solutions.