Wireless Charging Truck Hack
I hacked wireless Qi charging into the center console of my 2012 truck, then added wireless CarPlay for good measure.
"Nighttime charging is 99% of my use case. Apple owning the SW+HW stack should allow for a better solution." — @sdw
I don’t feel there is as much benefit to nighttime wireless charging. I’ve decided to use Qi in more casual stop/go settings. Like my office.
For me, I think real power of Qi will be “casual charging” to keep phone juiced up during day. I expect to charge in my office more often.
Tonight’s totally unnecessary project: adding wireless Qi charging to my truck.
I hacked wireless charging into the center console of my truck this weekend. It was a fun project, and I’m SUPER happy with the results.
A friend complimented the wireless charging truck build
Thank you! I felt like a kid screwing around with stereos again. And just to close that loop, ordered a wireless CarPlay stereo today.
I now have wireless charging AND wireless CarPlay in my 2012 truck. Who says you need a new vehicle to live in the future!?
A friend asked if the install was custom or professional
As my dad liked to say, it’s a J. Jones special. I hacked it in myself. There are a million easier ways I could have added a Qi charger, but I wanted something that felt OEM.
A friend asked about the CarPlay setup
No way! I just went all in on wireless. Wireless charging and then wireless CarPlay stereo.
A week after getting this installed - I decided to buy one for my wife’s car. The upgrade is just too awesome to have in only one of our cars.
Look at the Alpine ILX-107. It’s about as close to a reference design as you could ask for. Tiny bezel, very little branding. Capacitive touch and wireless CarPlay. Very happy with mine.
I put an aftermarket CarPlay unit in my 2012 truck a few years ago, and it made it feel so futuristic and awesome. Wireless is especially magical.