Wireless charging is here to stay. And while you may have been reaping the benefits of wireless charging inside your home or office, what about your car? Do you still need wired options for charging in your vehicle?
You can put a wireless charger in your car. Depending on your car model, it may already have a built-in charger system, and if it doesn’t, you can install one. Unfortunately, most cars that have this technology built-in are the premium and more recent models.
Let’s take a look at how you can put a wireless charger in your car and consider whether it’s a good idea in the first place. We’ll also highlight the best wireless car chargers available. Let’s get started!
Can You Put a Wireless Charger in Your Car?
You can certainly put a wireless charger in your car. But before installing one, check out your car’s manual. If you only got your car a few years back, there’s a high chance that it already includes a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad right at the center console or across the shifting column in the change tray.
If you’re driving a Toyota, for example, you’re in for a pleasant surprise because most of them already have wireless charging pads. Honda, Mercedes, Volkswagen, BMW, and Audi also have this feature in some models.
That said, most cars generally don’t have the built-in wireless charging feature yet, but there are various accessories that you can install as an alternative.
Qi-compatible wireless chargers for vehicles are much more costly than those used in homes and offices since they require additional hardware for a GPS-style display. The good news is that there are still plenty of options in the market for under $50.
How to Put a Wireless Charger in Your Car
If you’re a do-it-yourself (DIY) fan, here’s how you can put a wireless charger in your automobile:
- First, get yourself a few low-cost induction coils and a small circuit board (easily found online) plus an electrical current of at most 15 watts. If you have a home wireless charger, you can disassemble it and use its coils.
- On the dashboard or center console, you can place the coil pad under a non-metallic surface that’s three to four millimeters thick (so the induction coils can reach the phone’s receptor coils).
- Connect the power to the fuse box or the battery, and voila! You’ve got a permanent wireless charging station. If the charging pad can’t go on the change tray, you can replace it with a thinner base to comfortably fit.
Depending on your car model, you can do this within minutes or a few hours. Either way, it’s cheaper than getting a new car and much more attractive than retail chargers. Besides, you get to engage your DIY side!
Is It a Good Idea to Have a Wireless Charger in Your Car?
Driving around while charging your phone wirelessly is like a dream come true. However, since this technology is fairly new, it comes with a few challenges.
First, it’s relatively daunting to incorporate the charging mats into the automobile dashboards. Some carmakers have successfully installed this charging system, while others opt not to due to the varying sizes of smartphones.
Making sure that these chargers work with all phones in the market is a massive challenge.
Another issue is that your phone tends to move around a lot while you’re driving your car, and it may drift away from the best charging spot. Yes, having a phone cradle snatching onto the phone is an excellent solution, but they aren’t yet available. These devices would also have to be universally adaptable to every smartphone design.
Wireless charging also emits some heat, and the devices can get too hot to handle. Fortunately, some cars like Hyundai counteract this problem through their cooling mechanisms, managing the heat to some extent.
Whether you’re using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the major issue with wireless chargers today is compatibility. If you enjoy using Alexa or Google Assistant’s voice to eliminate distractions, you’re in for a rude shock. They only work in most cars when the phone is attached to a USB connection and not a wireless charger.
Finally, wireless charging is only available in premium model vehicles like BMWs and the Nissan Magnite.
The Best Wireless Car Chargers
If you’re looking to drive your way to a full phone battery, then you should invest in an excellent car charger. Here are our top picks:
iOttie Auto Sense Wireless Car Charger
The iOttie Auto Sense Wireless Car Charger (on Amazon) comes in two styles: a dashboard mount and a CD and vent clip. It features a well-designed telescopic arm, a robust suction cup, and a wireless charging capability that works with most phones.
For an iPhone, you get 7.5 watts of charging, and for Androids, you get 10 watts of charging, which is very speedy for wireless charging. It also includes a dual charging USB cigarette lighter converter.
Upgraded Zeehoo Wireless Charger
The Upgraded Zeehoo Wireless Car Charger (on Amazon) includes auto-clamping and a safe suction cup that you can put on your car’s air vent, windshield, or dashboard.
For Android phones, it has USB-C and up to 15-watt rapid charging, while iPhones will get 7.5-watt charging. It also has an auto-sensing electronic arm.
Mophie Snap Plus 15W Wireless Charging
The Mophie Mobile Snap Plus 15W Wireless Charging (on Amazon) is a magnetic mount with a built-in USB-C connection and a charging puck that is removable from the mount.
It also includes a cigarette lighter adapter and a magnetic ring that can be attached to the rear of phones that aren’t MagSafe-compatible, such as Android phones.