GM Ready to Add Wireless In-Car Cell Phone Charging

General Motors Co. plans to equip some of its 2014 models with a system that can recharge cell phones remotely, Bloomberg News reports.

The news service cites Powermat Technologies Ltd., which is developing GM's system. The carmaker declined to say when the device would appear in GM vehicles.

GM announced a $5 million investment in Powermat in 2011. At the time, it said the technology might appear as early as mid-2012 in the Chevrolet Volt.

Two other carmakers Chrysler and Toyota already offer inductive recharging systems in one or more models. Consumers also can buy similar devices, including those made by Powermat, for home or office use.

The technology works only with phones and other portable electronic devices that have been equipped with a special coil. The coil receives energy from an electromagnetic field generated by the nearby inductive charger. Charging time is comparable to that of a conventional plug-in charger.

GM is no stranger to inductive charging. The company's short-lived EV1 electric car used a plug-in inductive paddle to recharge its lead-acid batteries.