GM acquires battery software startup ALGOLiON

Key Points

• 💼 General Motors (GM) has acquired battery software startup ALGOLiON Ltd., based in Israel.
• ⚡ The acquisition is expected to aid GM in battery development for full-electric vehicle production.
• 📊 ALGOLiON’s sophisticated software utilizes data streams from EV battery management systems to identify anomalies, ensure vehicle health management, and detect battery hazards.
• 🔄 ALGOLiON’s software employs advanced algorithms to detect changes impacting battery health earlier than other methods, potentially improving battery performance and longevity.
• 🔋 GM has been actively investing in battery technology and production, aiming to catch up to or surpass Tesla’s cell technology.
• 💰 In collaboration with POSCO Chemical, GM received significant funding for the battery materials facility in Bécancour, Canada, to produce cathode active material (CAM) for Ultium batteries.
• 🌍 GM has also secured supply agreements for critical battery materials from mines in Brazil and Australia, diversifying its supply chain.

General Motors Co. announced that it acquired Israel-based battery software startup ALGOLiON Ltd. The acquisition might help General Motors with battery development for full-electric vehicle production. 

“ALGOLiON, which received early support from the Israeli Innovation Authority, was founded in 2014 by Niles Fleischer, Ph.D., and Alex Nimberger, Ph.D. The company has developed sophisticated software that uses data streams from EV battery management systems to help identify anomalies in cell performance to ensure proper vehicle health management and provide early detection of battery hazards, including thermal runaway propagation events,” noted GM about the company.

General Motors also shared that ALGOLiON’s software uses sophisticated algorithms to find changes that might impact battery health. The Israel-based company’s software can detect changes affecting battery health weeks earlier than other methods. 

In 2020, General Motors claimed its new battery would catch up or surpass Tesla’s cell technology. The legacy automaker has been working hard to develop a clean and affordable supply chain for battery production. It has also made significant investments in battery development. 

In May 2023, General Motors and POSCO Chemical’s battery materials facility in Bécancour, Canada, received over 220 million in funding. GM and POSCO plan to produce cathode active material (CAM) for the Ultium batteries at the Bécancour facility. General Motors also has a battery production plan in the United States through a $3 billion joint investment with Samsung SDI. 

GM isn’t stopping at battery production or raw material processing for cells. General Motors has also signed supply agreements for critical batter materials from mines in Brazil and Australia.