Scientists say device charges cars smarter

Device automatically figures out best and cheapest times to recharge cars

SEATTLE – Researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash., say they’ve come up with a way to recharge electric cars that won’t strain the power grid.

The smart charger controller is a device that automatically figures out the best and cheapest times for drivers to recharge cars.

The technology communicates with the power grid and can temporarily stop charging when there is stress on the system, scientist Michael Kintner-Meyer said.

“If a million owners plug their vehicles to recharge after work, it could cause a major strain on the grid,” Kintner-Meyer said. The new device ensures that the existing grid is used more evenly, he said.

AP