General Motors, Israeli start-up ink $5 mln deal

• Source: Xinhua
• [08:39 January 13 2011]
• Comments

US car maker General Motors and the Israeli Powermat company in recent days signed a 5 million- dollar deal to develop and adapt the start-up's wireless charging technologies for GM's upcoming vehicle lineup.

The two sides announced the $5 million deal last week at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Israeli media reported Tuesday.

GM's venture capital subsidiary plans to "accelerate the technology's development and support efforts to grow Powermat's business globally," a GM statement from CES read.

"The Chevy Volt will be one of the first applications, but we intend to expand it across our vehicle portfolio," said Micky Bly, GM's chief of electronics for hybrid and all-electric cars.

GM intends to offer Powermat as an option on a range of vehicles, beginning with the all-electric 2011 Chevy Volt, and will offer Powermat on Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC models as of mid-2012.

"Imagine a mat or shelf where you could put your iPhone, your Droid or other personal device and charge it automatically while you commute to work, run errands or as you're driving on a family vacation," Bly said, according to the Israel 21c website.

Powermat, a 2007 start-up, garnered a lot of immediate media attention with its range of wireless charging mats for cellphones, computers and similar home electronics. The firm retails the mats in several major American chains, including Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart.