Mobile accessories maker Brandmotion is hoping to build off...
Mobile accessories maker Brandmotion is hoping to build off of limited but growing momentum in the factory vehicle wireless charging market with the release of aftermarket vehicle charging kits Tuesday to mobile electronics retailers. Brandmotion’s wireless FreedomCharge kits are based on the Qi wireless charging standard from the Wireless Power Consortium and connect directly to a vehicle’s electrical system, the company said. Its universal kit is priced at $169 and custom-fit charging trays for specific vehicles have a list price of $199, a company spokesman told us. The aftermarket kits “will make custom-fit wireless charging a reality for just about every other vehicle on the road today,” he said, referring to models including the Toyota Avalon and Jeep Cherokee that come from the factory with wireless charging built in. The Brandmotion charging pads, installable between the front seats, have liquid-resistant pad surfaces designed to stand up to a vehicle’s internal temperatures, the company said. The pad can be cleaned with a damp cloth and won’t harm or be damaged by devices or objects placed on its surface, including devices that aren’t Qi-enabled, the company said. A home charging kit is also available for $49, the spokesman said. A sleeve for the iPhone, which isn’t Qi-enabled, is $29, he said. Brandmotion is also bundling home and car charging kits. A universal kit with a home charger retails for $199 and a custom-fit vehicle charger with home charger bundle is $239, the spokesman said. Custom-fit chargers are available for 2014 vehicles including the Ford Fusion and Toyota Camry and 2009-2014 Ram trucks with bucket seats, Brandmotion said.