Germany’s Daimler AG (DDAIF, Financial) has declared its association with mobile technologies company Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM, Financial) to work together on wireless recharging of mobile phones in cars along with recharging of electric cars without requiring cables.
Joining the synergies
Founded in 1998, the parent company of the popular Mercedes-Benz Daimler AG is a German multinational automotive corporation. The company along with other German carmakers BMW (BAMXY, Financial) and Audi are going to collaborate with Qualcomm Incorporated, which is an American global semiconductors company that is involved in designing and marketing of wireless telecommunications products and services. Combined together, the two entities will strengthen and showcase their expertise in their respective fields wherein the carmakers will put focus on their software and telecommunications to raise up their bar in the technology field with the help of Qualcomm and the telecommunications giant will leverage from the technology allowing wireless recharging of mobile devices while driving the car along with increasing the in-car experience by allotting high speed 3G/4G connection.
The carmakers have been facing a lot of troubles due to stricter emission rules prevalent now, due to which they have been forced to downsize the engines, which once used to be the major contributor to profits. Keeping in line with changing technology, these companies started to develop electric vehicles (EV) and plug-in hybrid EVs.
Mutual advantage
Through their association with Qualcomm, they plan to use the services of the telecommunications expert Qualcomm which will charge their EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs without the need of plugging them in, thereby improvising the customer’s experience. Qualcomm’s latest technology offering "Halo," which is a wireless electric vehicle charging (WEVC) technology will also be included as a part of the tie-up. In addition, "WiPower," another supportive technology of "Halo," will be added, too, which will allow consumers to charge their electronics goods wirelessly while on the move. Qualcomm is also developing the wireless power 2.0 high performance programs to be used in electric vehicles for Daimler along with an upgraded version of WiPower wireless charging standard to be used for in-car wireless charging.
Technologically sound future
There was once a time when a simple fast speed car was considered as a great technology. However, with changing times, Inventions like electric cars and even hybrid cars came into being raising the bar for all the existing players in the industry. Consumers are soon to get services o a self-driven car too in the near future. The top carmakers of Germany are viewing the changes quite seriously and in another effort to catch up with the technology, they are planning to offer Nokia’s (NOK, Financial) mapping division as well in the cars. The current partnership isn’t the first one as far as Qualcomm is concerned. The company is already providing a series of sensor based and other automotive technology to the formula one team of Mercedes AMG Patronas. The devices fixed in the vehicles under this are Snapdragon chipsets of Qualcomm which not only offer convenience, better communication and energy efficiency but also is designed to provide infotainment and safety to the customers.
