Toyota says it’ll be producing the first car in the world with built-in Qi wireless charging. The 2013 Toyota Avalon Limited will be available in the USA with a ‘Technology Package’ that also includes radar-controlled cruise control, automatic high beams and a pre-collision safety system.
A high-friction Qi charging pad will be built into the centre console of the special edition Toyota Avalon, enabling any compatible phone to be charged when it’s placed on the pad.
Randy Stephens, chief engineer of Toyota Avalon, said “Pioneering the ability to charge with no wires or connectors by simply putting devices in the car console is an intuitive innovation which reflects Toyota’s continuing commitment to improve the consumer experience. We see wireless charging as an important feature that helps enhance the high-technology theme and consumer interface offered by Avalon Limited which is already equipped with three TFT color screens and Intellitouch controls.”
Qi, the wireless charging standard developed and licensed by the Wireless Power Consortium, works with any Qi-enabled device. Mobile phones that support Qi wireless charging include the HTC Windows Phone 8X, the LG Google Nexus 4 and the Nokia Lumia 920.