Wireless system makes it easy to charge electronics on the go

Auburn Hills - No more dangling power cords connected to outlets in a vehicle’s centre console as Chrysler announces wireless charging system coming later this year.

The system, from Chrysler’s Mopar division, will allow vehicle owners to charge Blackberries, iPhones and other smartphones as well as MP3 players and Droid-based devices without the use of unsightly wires dangling across the centre panel. The charger will be available as an option for the 2013 Dodge Dart, when it goes on sale later this year. “At Mopar, we look for every single opportunity to make our customers’ lives easier,” said Pietro Gorlier, Mopar president and CEO. “Our industry-first in-vehicle wireless charging system is the perfect solution for those connected customers who are always on the go.” The charger features a power bin that sits in the car’s centre console, just below the centre stack and is approximately eight inches high by 10 inches wide by three inches deep. The bin’s charging grid is activated when the user places a battery-powered device in the unit. A phone case, designed for a variety of smartphones, is required and included with the charging unit. Chrysler says the unit will be available for $200, plus the cost of installation. The 2013 Dodge Dart is the first vehicle to evolve from the collaboration between Chrysler and Fiat. The all-new compact car promises to deliver on the convenience of a family car with the performance attributes of sports sedan. The Dodge Dart is scheduled to go on sale this summer.