Visteon Corporation has launched an in-vehicle wireless battery charger.


This eliminates the need to have dedicated power cords for each portable device – such as an MP3 player – in the vehicle.


The user places the device on the charger, and power is transferred wirelessly by electromagnetic induction to the portable device at a rate comparable to a plug-in power cord. The charger can determine if an object is in close proximity, and whether the object can be charged.


“Based on consumer studies that Visteon conducted in several countries, people are willing to invest in the convenience of not having to deal with charging cords in a vehicle,” said Visteon electronics product group vice president Steve Meszaros.