The Israeli innovation ecosystem is one of the most mature technology hubs worldwide. The roots of Israel’s technological strengths can be traced back to its development of defense technologies, with some notable achievements.
Since 2010, over 40 mobility-dedicated start-ups in Israel have received funding from investors, as have over 600 start-ups with possible applications in mobility (automotive solutions, automotive battery).
Many OEMs are coming to Israel to capitalize on these technologies. Currently, 10 of the largest 15 auto manufacturers have set up local offices. All of them include some form of scouting, seeking relevant innovation ideas in local companies that develop technologies with applications in the automotive world. Eight of these local offices also conduct R&D, either working jointly with Israeli start-ups or employing engineers from the local talent pool to develop in-house technologies.
Automotive Industries in Israel 2023
Innoviz Technologies
Innoviz Technologies is a leading provider of high-performance, solid-state LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors for autonomous vehicles. Their innovative LiDAR technology enables accurate perception and mapping of the vehicle's surroundings.
Website: Innoviz Technologies
Arbe Robotics
Arbe Robotics is focused on developing 4D high-resolution imaging radar for autonomous vehicles. Their radar technology provides enhanced perception capabilities, enabling autonomous vehicles to accurately detect and track objects in real time.
Website: Arbe Robotics
Cognata
Cognata offers a simulation platform for testing and validating autonomous vehicle systems. Their platform provides a virtual environment where developers can simulate various scenarios and conditions to ensure the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicles.
Website: Cognata
Hailo
Hailo develops advanced deep learning processors designed specifically for edge computing applications, including autonomous vehicles. Their processors offer high-performance, low-power consumption solutions for AI inference tasks in automotive systems.
Website: Hailo
Please note that the information provided is accurate as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021. It's always a good idea to visit the respective websites for the latest updates on these companies and their offerings.
Smart glass technologies that allow internal and external vehicle glass to be an active material
Israeli nanotech startup Gauzy revealed this month innovative applications for its active smart glass technologies being used by the likes of BMW, Brose, and Sekisui.
In addition to Gauzy’s booth, the company’s technologies were also displayed by BMW, which has created a new headlight design for its BMWi Vision Circular Showcar, utilizing Gauzy SPD LCG Technology integrated into automotive thin glazed glass.
The all-electric car features dynamic shading headlights that support a futuristic exterior. When SPD is off, the headlights are hidden. When the car turns on, the SPD turns transparent in response to an integrated system, instantly revealing headlights that illuminate the surrounding area.
Joined by industry-leading companies in its booth at the IAA Auto Show in Munich, including long-time partner Vision Systems, and in collaboration with LG Display, and Texas Instruments, Gauzy showcased how its LCG (light control glass) smart glass technologies with PDLC (polymer dispersed liquid crystal) and SPD (suspended particle device) allows internal and external vehicle glass to be an active material that supports full shading and glare mitigation, temperature control, infotainment, advertising, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian messaging.
Battery developer StoreDot
The Israeli battery developer StoreDot has concluded a strategic framework agreement with the Chinese battery manufacturer EVE Energy. According to the agreement, the fast-charging “XFC FlashBattery” with silicon-dominant anode developed by StoreDot is to be commercialized.
The first samples are to be made available for testing in the coming months, according to StoreDot. Mass production in ordinary production lines for lithium-ion batteries is planned for 2024. StoreDot calls the agreement an “important milestone towards the commercialization of the ‘5-minute charge’ battery”.
The Israeli company demonstrated in an interim step in 2019 that their technology could charge the battery of an electric scooter in five minutes. The first development samples were demonstrated to potential partners in early 2021.
The framework agreement now concluded is not the first collaboration between the companies: EVE Energy has been working with StoreDot since 2018 to develop the XFC battery into a smaller form factor, namely the battery from the electric scooter demonstrator. According to the updated agreement, the technology is now to be scaled up, and there are also plans to set up a joint venture for mass production – StoreDot is not yet giving details on this.
Source: https://www.electrive.com/2021/05/20/storedot-eve-to-develop-faster-charging-battery-by-2024/
Update 2019
Despite Tech prowess, Israel ranks low on Autonomous Vehicle readiness, but BMW is to trial autonomous cars in Israel this year.
Israel is home to 500 to 600 automotive-related companies, around a fifth of which focus on autonomous technologies, according to KPMG.
Israel autonomous car startups don’t sell so quickly despite an avalanche of merger and acquisition offers.
The trial will comprise 140 vehicles around the world, which compares with 70 at present, and will be carried out in areas where BMW has R&D bases, among them the West Coast of the US, China, and Israel as well.
The trial will probably be carried out on autonomous vehicles based on BMW’s 7 series cars known in Germany as robot taxis, that is, vehicles that can carry passengers to their destinations like public transport on fixed routes without driver intervention.
In the past two years, BMW has already been operating some 7 series autonomous test vehicles in Mobileye’s trial fleet.
In 2017 General Motors executives visited Israel. Not so long ago, such a visit would have been accompanied by major fanfare, an official ceremony, with enthusiastic media coverage, a helicopter tour over Israel, and much more besides.
But this visit received zero media attention and, other than a short meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had no official dimensions. It was a practical, business-oriented trip, after which the visitors boarded the corporation’s executive planes and returned to Detroit. In fact, such visits to Israel have become routine in the past few months. If past years have seen only low-ranking regional directors visiting Israel, you can nowadays find senior international automaker executives visiting Israel at almost any given time
Israeli company promises a 5-minute recharge for your electric car
StoreDot aims to jumpstart the electric vehicle revolution by recharging batteries in just 5 minutes. Manufacturing is likely to begin by 2022.
Electric-car range remains limited and recharging the battery can take from 45 minutes to several hours.
Manufacturers have been trying to boost the battery’s chemical “density” so an electric car can travel farther on a charge.
But recharging is still slow. Israeli startup StoreDot hopes to jumpstart the electric vehicle revolution by addressing this second trade-off.
Dec - 2016 - Dubi Ben-Gedalyahu
Israel autonomous car startups don't sell so quickly despite an avalanche of merger and acquisition offers.
Several weeks ago, senior General Motors executives visited Israel. Not so long ago, such a visit would have been accompanied by major fanfare, an official ceremony, with enthusiastic media coverage, a helicopter tour over Israel, and much more besides.
#innovation #israeltechnology #emprendimiento #autonomouscars #automotive #gauzy #storedot #GeneralMotors