General Motors has finalized a deal to purchase all the assets of ALGOLiON, a battery software startup from Israel that’s developed technology to detect problems in car battery packs. It is unclear how much GM paid.
ALGOLiON’s software suite uses data streams from EV battery management systems to help identify anomalies in cell performance in order to ensure proper vehicle health management. The system also provides early detection of issues such as thermal runaway events. It was founded by Niles Fleischer who has more than 40 years of experience in the battery industry and more than 80 patents in the field, alongside Alex Nimberger who has military and civilian experience in lithium-ion batteries.
The acquisition was led by GM’s Technology Acceleration and Commercialization (TAC) organization.
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“ALGOLiON has developed cutting edge battery analytics and prediction software that will help General Motors deliver great performing EVs for our customers,” TAC vice president Gil Golan said.
What’s special about ALGOLiON’s system is that its advanced algorithms can identify minuscule changes in battery health weeks earlier than other methods and work while the battery is still operating. The company’s two founders and its workforce will join the more than 850 employees currently working at the GM Technical Center in Herzliya, Israel. Leading the team will be senior engineering manager Guy Daniely.
“The ALGOLiON team is excited to join GM on its track to an all-electric vehicle future,” Fleischer said. “We found the right home for our technology to play an integral role in maintaining healthy batteries for exciting products and reach customers globally.”
GM’s center in Israel forms an important part of its ambition to achieve zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion. It has a particular focus on the areas of software and algorithms, machine learning, Software Defined Vehicles, cyber security, and user-facing applications for electric, autonomous, and connected vehicles.
