So Which Cars Out There Can Let You Wirelessly Charge iPhones?

Well, well, well -- Apple has recently published an official list of cars that come with built in wireless charging pads that have support for the Qi wireless charging standard developed by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). As you might have heard already, this year’s trio of new iPhone devices (namely the iPhone X, the iPhone 8, and the iPhone 8 Plus) all feature wireless charging using the Qi standard.

In announcing the list, Apple has not technically included the iPhone X yet (the device will be made available for preordering starting this Friday, October 27th; it launches in store shelves everywhere by November 3rd). But the general thinking is that if it works for the iPhone 8 models, then it should also work for the iPhone X.

As indicated in Apple’s support web page, the following car makers offer wireless chargers that use the Qi wireless charging standard:

• Audi

• BMW

• Chrysler

• Ford

• Genesis

• Honda

• Hyundai

• Kia

• Mercedes-Benz

• PSA

• Toyota

• Volkswagen

• Volvo

As for vehicles made by Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC, these specific cars can wirelessly charge an iPhone 8 or an iPhone 8 Plus unit:

• 2018 Buick Enclave

• 2018 Cadillac Escalade

• 2018 Chevrolet Bolt

• 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe

• 2018 Chevrolet Silverado

• 2018 Chevrolet Suburban

• 2018 GMC Terrain

• 2018 GMC Yukon

• 2018 GMC Sierra

Apple did qualify that some of the wireless chargers offered by these automobile manufacturers may not be big enough, especially for the iPhone 8 Plus. If this happens, the iPhone user will have no other choice but to use a regular charger instead (read: with cable). Moreover, it bears noting that earlier car models from brands such as Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC do not meet the requirements for the Qi wireless charging standard, so for sure, they will not be any good for the iPhone 8 models.

For those who find the list rather limited, they might take some comfort in knowing that the number of cars with wireless charging pads can only grow from here. And the fact that Apple has started implementing wireless charging in its smartphone devices should encourage other car makers to join in on the wireless charging party. 

While it is true that wireless charging technology is poised for some significant advances in the years to come, it is quite interesting to see how other non-mobile industries are exploring its crossover potential. Obviously, the auto making industry counts among those industries. More surprising are brands like IKEA (considered by many as the world’s biggest furniture maker), which is actually exploring the idea of selling furniture that comes with wireless charging capabilities. These are exciting times, indeed.