People often worry that if too many electric cars are plugged into the power grid it will overload the system.

Now Toyota is attempting to sell computer systems that link your car, your home and your utilities grid — so you know exactly how much energy your home is using and the ideal time to charge your plug-in vehicle.

The car manufacturer’s home smart grid — called Smart Center– lets people monitor their household electricity consumption on TV screens and mobile handsets. You’ll also be able to check the charge amount on your plug-in vehicle, and how much electricity has been stored in the home, AP reported.

According to AP, “It calculates the most efficient way of using energy, eliminating waste by shutting off gadgets when they aren’t being used and maximizing the recharging benefits of hybrids, which recharge as they run. Utilities can also be used when rates are cheapest such as overnight to heat stored water.”

This could potentially save customers a lot of energy costs in the long run. Toyota expects to sell thousands of Priuses in the coming year, so the additional smart grid technology would be a great supplement.

The automaker also said that the combination of the smart grid and a plug-in could potentially reduce household energy consumption by 75 per cent.

The company has released a price on the Smart Center yet, but it is most likely to be a propriety software — which means it will only work on your Toyota and Lexus cars. As of now the Smart Center is only available in Japan, but it should eventually make it States side.

Ford and GE are working on similar products in the U.S.

Given the potential these grids have at saving electricity, plug-in vehicles will be responsible for more than just driving you around. They will also be able to store energy and put some back into the utilities grid when needed. This will make the cars incredibly cost effective in the long run.