Chrysler Introduces Wireless In-Car Device Charging

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f you're anything like us, you spend your time on the road trapped in a tangle of wires. When we're testing cars, we might have a cell phone charger and MP3 player USB cord plugged in, and if we added a radar detector to that mix, we'd find ourselves even further swamped.

Chrysler has come up with a solution to this sticky situation. Mopar, the Chrysler Group's aftermarket arm, has whipped up a wireless charging mat that will charge smartphones and MP3 players without cords. The upcoming 2013 Dodge Dart will be the first vehicle to get this feature.

For $199.99 plus installation, you'll get a power bin with a built-in charging grid placed below the center stack, in front of the shifter and center console. A special phone case will be required to make the phone work, and the system will come with the case, which is meant to fit a variety of smartphones. The system will work with Droid-based devices, MP3 players, iPhones, and Blackberries. The grid activates when a user places his or her phone on the mat.

Maybe we are moving to a truly wireless future after all.

[Source: Chrysler]