Smart power systems provider IONATE said it is collaborating with General Motors to bring its hybrid intelligent transformer (HIT) technology to GM’s manufacturing plant in Romulus, Michigan. The collaboration marks IONATE’s entry into the U.S. market on the heels of projects across European grids and reflects a shared focus on modernizing critical electrical infrastructure for a new era of power demand, the company said.

IONATE’s HIT technology is designed to sense and resolve power flow issues in real time before they affect operations or the surrounding grid. The technology will first be installed at GM’s 900,000 sq. ft. Romulus facility, which is currently scaling production of 10-speed transmissions used in GM’s full-size trucks and SUVs following a recent $300 million investment to expand capacity.

The goal of the deployment is to provide GM with real-time visibility and control into power quality and consumption at sub-millisecond resolution, enhancing energy resiliency, quality, and efficiency of the plant’s energy usage – while also benefitting the entire grid by identifying and preventing issues that could lead to outages before they happen.

It positions GM among the first industrial users in the U.S. to deploy this smart energy infrastructure, offering a potential model for manufacturers, data centers and grid operators facing growing pressure to modernize energy systems without waiting for broader grid upgrades.

“Deploying the Hybrid Intelligent Transformer with General Motors marks a significant step in reinforcing industrial power infrastructure with solid-state intelligence,” said Matthew Williams, founder and CEO of IONATE.”GM’s manufacturing operations demand the highest standards of reliability, efficiency, and power quality – and that is what we build for.”

Electrical infrastructure remains one of the most important foundations of the modern economy, even as its core building blocks have not changed much in more than a century. Industrial electrification, generation expansion and the rapid growth of AI-driven power demand are placing new strains on systems that were not designed for today’s scale, complexity or speed of change. As a result, utilities, manufacturers and other large energy users are increasingly focused on how to modernize existing infrastructure, improve resilience and prepare networks for future demand.

IONATE’s HIT technology aims to address this challenge by modernizing one of the grid’s most critical infrastructure assets. Delivered in the form of a transformer, HIT was built to upgrade the capabilities of the underlying electrical infrastructure itself. It is positioned at the critical connection point between the grid and on-site energy use, with the goal of providing real-time visibility into power conditions while also detecting, analyzing, and resolving power disturbances in real time, all while operating at greater than 99% efficiency.

The system reduces the need for costly infrastructure overhauls, supply chain disruptions, and downtime because it integrates into existing substations and facilities. By improving how power is managed and utilized across existing infrastructure, the technology aims to help prepare networks for emerging sources of demand while supporting more efficient and resilient grid operations.

In average deployment scenarios, grids using IONATE’s technology demonstrated they could accommodate 33% more distributed energy resources, carry 25% more power without upgrading poles and wires, and reduce wasted power by 6%, according to the company.

“Maximizing efficiency and resiliency is crucial in GM’s manufacturing system, and it’s why we’re implementing innovative technology to enhance our energy management and the overall grid,” said Luis Cervantes, executive director of manufacturing excellence at GM.