Yesterday Toyota became the self-proclaimed first automaker to offer wireless device charging as an option in their vehicles. The 2013 Toyota Avalon Limited and Avalon Hybrid Limited will have Qi wireless charging technology included in their Technology add-on package.
As you probably know, Qi is the same technology found in the Nokia Lumia 920, Verizon's HTC 8X and in optional backplates for Nokia's Lumia 810, 820 and 822.
While it's great to see Toyota start incorporating such features into their cars, it's a little disheartening that the availability is so limited. Not only is Qi only going to be offered in Toyota's $40,000+ high-end Avalon, but you will have to shell out an additional $1750 for the Technology package. Hopefully, you also want radar cruise control, precollision system, and automatic high beams.
Of course, as this kind of thing becomes more widespread across devices, it will doubtless start showing up more and more in vehicles. In the meantime, it would have been nice if Toyota used a phone that actually has built-in wireless charging in their picture.
Source: CNET; Thanks, Jason F, for the tip!
