> The irony of the cigarette lighter outlet in a modern car is that it's not likely to be used for its original purpose, but it won't disappear from cars because it's a convenient way to charge a small electronic device.

I subscribe to a car-sharing service that uses exclusively Volvos and they all have USB ports. And the cigarette lighters are marked "12V" instead of "cigarette lighter". I can see the 12V ports disappearing in favor of USB in a couple years.

That would be a major shame since there are AC power inverters that run off of 12V ports in cars. Some people rely on those for different reasons. For example, it's a really nice way to recharge a laptop while traveling.

I drive a Jeep Wrangler. 2012+ they have a 120v AC outlet, cigarette lighters (one in the front, and one in the back where you can connect refrigerators and such), and multiple USB ports. Including a USB port inside the center console which locks, allowing you to charge your phone securely while away from your vehicle with the top off.

It's also worth noting that an adapter that connects the 12v in any car to a USB outlet can be had for less than $10 on Amazon.

In my last rental car they skipped the middleman; there was no 12v port, but there was a 120V AC socket, as well as the usb.

With USB PD, you can recharge your laptop through USB, which will now provide up to 100W. No doubt there will be USB PD - AC power inverters for other use cases when 12V ports are obsoleted.

It will disappear. A lot of new cars in Europe already have a USB port built into the dashboard.

A lot of new cars in Europe also have front, rear and trunk 12V sockets.

I wouldn't buy one without at least two of those.

That sounds more practical. A lot of equipment exists that assumes the presence of a cigarette lighter socket, but I wouldn't be surprised if they declined over time because the USB socket is cheaper and more versatile.

It'll be fun when people start buying USB-powered cigarette lighters because they've been obsoleted from cars :)

The joke going around is "can you unplug your book, I need to charge my cigarette": the lighter will be obsoleted too in favour of e-cigs. Generally it's better for things not to be on fire.

> Generally it's better for things not to be on fire.

Maybe in your bubble.

When gas stations are selling e-cigs, how is that a techie-bubble at all?

My 2009 BMW has a USB. Works great as a charger.