Wireless in-car device charging coming your way

Delphi Automotive is developing a new system that will allow motorists to charge electronic devices wirelessly in their vehicles.

Showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show, the system sends out power over distance to deliver a charge without exactly positioning the device. The company claims that the system will get rid of the inconvenience, distraction and clutter of multiple charging cords.

“From navigation systems to cell phones to personal computing devices, we are tied to our favourite electronics, but we won’t always have to be tied to charging cords for them to work,” said Christopher Reider, global director of engineering at Delphi Connection Systems. “Instead, our system will use magnetic fields from hidden power source resonators placed in the vehicle interior to automatically power these devices through high-efficiency, hands-free charging.”

The new system makes use of magnetic resonance technology, which is better than traditional inductive charging as it can send power over distances, can charge several devices simultaneously and does not need exact device positioning to deliver the charge.

The system is being planned to be production-ready by model year 2014.

Honda Civic still Canada’s top-selling car

Honda Civic had a hard time maintaining its stronghold in Canada due to intense competition and lower production caused by the earthquake in Japan and flooding in Thailand that both have affected sales. In spite of these challenges, the Civic has pulled it off, having clinched the top-selling passenger car title in the country for the 14^th straight year.

A total of 55,090 Civics found a new owner last year, about 10,000 higher than the Hyundai Elantra. This figure is approximately 18,000 and 21,000 higher than the Mazda3 and Chevrolet Cruze, respectively.

“First and foremost, we thank the thousands of Canadians who bought Honda Civic models this past year to make the Civic the number one car in Canada for the fourteenth consecutive year.”

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Chevrolet Volt gets enhancements

The Chevrolet Volt will get enhancements aimed at protecting the battery from an electrical fire after a severe crash. These modifications will improve the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle’s battery coolant system and structure.

The enhancements are in response to an initial evaluation conducted by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to check post-severe crash battery performance. It was on November 25 when the agency opened the evaluation after a severe-impact laboratory test on a battery that lead to an electrical fire after six days. Such test was performed in order to reproduce a coolant leak that happened in a full-scale car crash test in May, which led to an electrical fire after three weeks.

These modifications will reinforce a current portion of the car’s structure to further safeguard the battery in a severe side collision. These will also add a tamper-resistant bracket to the top of the reservoir of the battery coolant system to help avoid coolant overfill. A sensor will also be added on the battery coolant reservoir to observe coolant levels.

Volt owners will be notified individually when the enhancements are available for their cars. The modifications are also being integrated into the Volt manufacturing process as production recommences this month.

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