Powermat cordless chargers for GM vehicles
Ever heard of Powermats? Available for sale already as standalone devices, the cool little mat works by 'wirelessly' charging your gadgets as you place them on top. Pretty nifty stuff. Wouldn't it be great if your car's centre console would do the same? General Motors is hoping so.
Having just invested $5 million USD ($5.1 million) into Powermat, the new General is hoping to integrate the technology first in the Volt and in all its platforms over the next few years. The current plan is to have it for the Chevrolet Volt within 18 months.
“Imagine a mat or shelf where you could put your iPhone, your Droid or other personal device and charge it automatically while you commute to work, run errands or as you’re driving on a family vacation, the Chevy Volt will be one of the first applications, but we intend to expand it across our vehicle portfolio.” said Micky Bly, GM’s executive director of electronic systems and hybrids
There are currently some limitations, though. You can't simply dump your iPhone on the mat and expect it to charge. You'll need to use a Powermat case (which is reasonable given it acts both as a protective case and as a charger).
The big question is whether or not we can expect to see this sort of technology in everyday Commodores?
"The technology is very exciting and is yet another sign that car development and the digital world are rapidly converging. With Holden being a part of the broader GM family, we'll be sure to take a look at this for future models and determine whether it can be successfully applied for the local market." Emma Watts Corporate Communications Manager at Holden told CarAdvice.
Would you like to see a Powermat built in to your Commodore?
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