Shubham Sawarkar
Tesla launched the Tesla Wireless Charging Platform, a $300 wireless charging pad that can charge up to three Qi-enabled devices simultaneously. The concept is similar to Apple‘s AirPower in that the three devices can be put wherever on the Tesla charging mat and receive up to 15W of power each.
The charging mat’s angular shape was inspired by the look of the Cybertruck, according to Tesla, and it comprises an aluminum enclosure with an alcantara surface and a removable magnetic base that can be used for charging flat or at an angle.
“Inspired by the angular design and metallic styling of Cybertruck, our Wireless Charging Platform provides 15W of fast charging power per device for up to three devices simultaneously. Its sleek design is composed of an aluminum housing, premium alcantara surface and a detachable magnetic stand that allows you to lay the charger flat or at an angle for better viewing. Featuring FreePower® technology, which charges your Qi capable devices such as phones or earbuds placed anywhere on its surface without precise alignment.”
Apple announced the AirPower in September 2017, a multi-device charger designed to charge the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously. Apple wanted consumers to be able to charge their smartphones anywhere they chose on the AirPower, but the overlapping wireless coils necessary proved problematic, with Apple seeing heat management and interference difficulties that made the product useless. AirPower was supposed to come in 2018, however, it never did, and Apple acknowledged its cancellation in 2019.
Tesla’s charging pad uses FreePower, an Aira technology that has been used in other wireless charging systems such as Nomad’s Base Station Pro. Nomad’s Base Station Pro also supported charging from anywhere on the charging platform, but it proved problematic because, due to a firmware fault, it did not work well with the iPhone 12 and later.
While Tesla’s concept is similar to what Apple hoped for with the AirPower, it is limited to Qi-based devices such as the iPhone and AirPods and does not charge the Apple Watch.
