Chrysler Group Unveils Industry's First In-Vehicle Wireless Charging Solution

There've been wireless charging solutions to use at home or in the office for a while now. I think most of us are familiar with these solutions that use a special case or battery door on your smartphone allowing you to set it down on charging plate to recharge the battery without having to fiddle with wires. For the most part, we have always had to fiddle with wires and DC adapters in the car, but Chrysler Group LLC is changing that.

The first vehicle from the Chrysler Group to get wireless in vehicle charging will be the 2013 Dodge Dart. The Dart is set to hit dealer showrooms in Q2 of 2012. The car has an integrated power bin that measures 8.27-inches by 9.5-inches by 3.25-inches. The bin is just below the center stack in front of the center console and has an integrated charging grid activated when the user places their smartphone into the bin.

Just like the home solutions, the in vehicle Mopar charging solution does require the phone to have a special case installed. The case is available for a variety of phones, and the stock photo from Chrysler shows the iPhone in use. The vehicle charging solution is $199.99 plus installation. It sounds as if this is a dealer-installed option. $199.99 seems expensive, but if you spend a lot of time in your car with your smart phone, the price might be agreeable. The downside is if you use your smartphone for navigation, you won't be able to see the screen when the phone is in the bin.