Some vehicles come equipped with QI wireless charging pads built into the center console. This cutting edge technology allows you to charge your phone without plugging it in: simply set your phone down on the charging pad, and it charges. Easy as that.
In order for this to work properly, you'll need to have a phone that supports wireless charging. Most of the newer Samsung Galaxy S model phones support this feature (Galaxy S6 or higher) but you should check your specific phone to be sure the feature is built into the phone. iPhones, sadly, do not yet support wireless charging, and based on the early circulating rumors about the upcoming iPhone 8, it probably won't have wireless charging either.
If your phone doesn't have wireless charging built in, or you're a loyalist to the Apple ecosystem, there is a way to make your phone charge wirelessly without having the technology built in. There are companies that make special cases for your phone that will give you wireless charging compatibility. You can find them at your local electronics store, or at the online realtor named for a jungle. You know who I mean.
Wireless charging technology works by sending a charge through an electromagnetic field created when a compatible phone rests on a compatible. Since this process uses electromagnetism to send electricity, there is often a warning on these wireless charging pads to never put a metal object (keys, paper clips, coins, etc) in between the charging pad and your phone. These objects could get extremely hot as a result. So this is just something to be careful of.
Some in-vehicle wireless charging pads come with an on/off button. When the light is lit, the charging station is powered on.
This new technology is an incredibly simple and convenient way to charge your phone on the go. If your vehicle is equipped with this feature, I encourage you to find out if your phone is compatible, and give it a try if it is. It might just be your new default way to charge your phone in your vehicle.
