General Motors Co. in Detroit has acquired substantially all the assets of Israel-based battery software startup ALGOLiON Ltd. for an undisclosed sum.
The acquisition was led by the newly formed Technology Acceleration and Commercialization (TAC) organization, a group within GM that works to identify emerging technology that can support GM’s position in battery development through investments, acquisitions, or partnerships.
ALGOLiON, which received early support from the Israeli Innovation Authority, was founded in 2014 by Niles Fleischer and Alex Nimberger. The company has developed 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.
Fleischer has more than 40 years of experience in the battery industry and more than 80 patents in the field. Nimberger has military and civilian experience in all aspects of lithium-ion battery operating modes and effects analysis.
ALGOLiON’s software, coupled with GM’s internal capabilities and experience in delivering products at scale, is designed to accelerate time-to-market of a cost-effective early hazard detection system.
“ALGOLiON has developed cutting edge battery analytics and prediction software that will help General Motors deliver great performing EVs for our customers,” says Gil Golan, vice president of TAC.
“The ALGOLiON team is excited to join GM on its track to an all-electric vehicle future,” says Fleischer. “We found the right home for our technology to play an integral role in maintaining healthy batteries for exciting products and reach customers globally.”
The software uses algorithms to identify miniscule changes that could affect battery health weeks earlier than other methods in use today without additional hardware or sensors, all while the battery is still operating properly.
ALGOLiON employees, including the company’s founders, will remain based in Israel and join more than 850 employees at the GM Technical Center in Herzliya, Israel. The team will be led by Guy Daniely, senior engineering manager at GM.
GM Israel is part of GM’s Global Product Development Group, working on key vehicle programs.
The Israeli center specializes in advanced technologies including software and algorithms, machine learning, software defined vehicles, cyber security, and user-facing applications for autonomous, electric and connected vehicles that are shaping the future of mobility.
In other GM news, Reading and Rhythm on the Riverfront (R3), a Detroit summertime children’s literacy program, is back in session on July 6 as GM and the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy kick off the program’s 13th season. Taking place at the Gabriel Richard Park along the East Riverfront, the R3 season runs Thursdays and Fridays through Aug. 11 with sessions at 10 and 11:30 a.m. each day.
Reading and Rhythm on the Riverfront is designed to promote literacy throughout southeastern Michigan and is meant to be a fun and interactive way of giving children and their families a chance to experience the Detroit Riverfront. Since its launch, R3 has served more than 25,000 participants.
The free program is made possible, in part, by a grant from GM, which also supports the conservancy’s 2023 volunteer activities. Each year, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy volunteers log more than 6,000 hours to support the Detroit Riverfront’s public events and programs.
“We’re excited to continue the tradition of Reading & Rhythm at the No. 1 riverfront in the country,” says Terry Rhadigan, vice president of Corporate Giving at GM. “In the last 12 years, thousands of kids and their families have enjoyed this summer series. While each year brings something new, it’s anchored around making reading fun.”
Each R3 session features readings by local business and community leaders, as well as professional story tellers. The program features live family entertainment, healthy snacks in partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, and a free book provided to each child by GM in partnership with the Detroit Public Library’s Mobile Library.
“Over the years, Reading & Rhythm has become one of our most popular programs, and we are excited for our 13thseason to begin,” says Renee Rodriguez,” programming manager at the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. “This program is important to our community, and we are grateful to our sponsors and partners that help make this program possible.”
Each session begins with a local performer providing interactive live entertainment to encourage audience participation and dancing. The sessions last about 45 minutes long featuring folk music, rock, jazz, Motown, reggae and more. Afterwards, families are encouraged to collect a free book from the Detroit Library Book Mobile. Reading and Rhythm is hosted at Gabriel Richard Park located just east of the bridge to Belle Isle at 7130 E. Jefferson in Detroit.
Pre-registration is encouraged to guarantee fun event giveaways.
Click here for individual registration here.
