In the past, it was rarely used for anything other than powering the onboard cigarette lighter; today, it’s an indispensable source of power for countless electronics, including our smartphones.

Okay, here's what's happened: You had to get out of town, fast. Maybe you just need a break, maybe you need to clear out while things blows over. Who knows. Point is, you're in your car, heading out ...

Most modern cars offer at least two ways to charge up a smartphone, in the form of a 12V lighter socket and a USB port. The latter could be more convenient for many, as it uses the same cable you ...