Chargers for plug-in electric vehicles are nothing new, but the folks at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have some smart plans for their new Smart Charger Controller. They hope that it might one day serve as a standard charger for all manner of electric vehicles.

Apparently each controller would be wirelessly linked to the local electric company, which would feed the controller power prices and other pertinent information so that it can charge during non-peak hours. That right there will save owners roughly $150 a year. It might even be able to sense “stress conditions” and shut down before the grid overloads.

Let’s hope that automakers and electric utilities get on board with this. That might be asking a bit much.

[Engadget]