The Critical Role of Cybersecurity in Electric Vehicle Charging Networks

SHILPI MONDAL| DATE: AUGUST 21,2025

Introduction

The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is transforming global transportation, with over 5 million EVs already on American roads and billions of federal dollars accelerating charging infrastructure deployment. However, this rapid expansion brings unprecedented cybersecurity challenges. EV charging stations represent a unique convergence of energy infrastructure, transportation systems, and networked technologies—creating a complex cyber-physical ecosystem vulnerable to malicious attacks. As charging networks expand, they become increasingly attractive targets for cybercriminals and state-sponsored actors seeking to disrupt critical infrastructure. The cybersecurity of these networks has evolved from a technical consideration to a national security imperative, requiring urgent attention from manufacturers, policymakers, and security professionals.

The Expanding Attack Surface of EV Charging Infrastructure

Network Architecture Vulnerabilities

EV charging infrastructure constitutes a sophisticated network of physical charging stations (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment or EVSE), cloud services, grid connections, and communication protocols. Each component introduces potential vulnerabilities. Charging stations themselves contain multiple access points including Ethernet, USB, Wi-Fi maintenance ports, and physical interfaces that can be exploited by attackers. Researchers have demonstrated that a single compromised charger could potentially affect an entire network of connected devices.

Communication Protocol Risks

Secure communication between electric vehicles and charging infrastructure is facilitated by standardized protocols like the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) and IEEE 2030.5, alongside various proprietary manufacturer systems. These communications support critical functions like authentication, billing, and charging management. Without proper encryption and authentication, these protocols are vulnerable to eavesdropping, message manipulation, and session hijacking. The integration of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology further expands the attack surface by enabling bidirectional energy flow—creating potential pathways for grid disruption through compromised charging infrastructure.

Types of Cyber Threats Targeting EV Charging Networks

Attack Classification

EV charging networks face diverse cyber threats categorized by their objectives and methods:

Spoofing: Masquerading as legitimate users, processes, or system elements 

Tampering: Modifying or editing legitimate information 

Repudiation: Denying actions executed by the system 

Information disclosure: Unauthorized access to protected data 

Denial of service: A denial-of-service (DoS) attack disrupts access for authorized users by overwhelming a system with traffic or requests.

Elevation of privilege: Elevation of privilege occurs when an attacker gains unauthorized higher-level access to a system.

Specific Attack Vectors

Research has identified numerous specific attack vectors targeting charging infrastructure:

False Data Injection Attacks (FDIA): Manipulating charging data to disrupt grid operations

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS): Overwhelming charging networks to cause widespread service interruptions 

Charger Manipulation: Gaining physical access to install malware or extract user data 

Vehicle-to-Grid Exploitation: Using bidirectional charging capabilities to destabilize power grids 

Payment System Compromises: intercepting or manipulating billing information and transactions 

Common Cyber Attacks on EV Charging Infrastructure

False Data Injection

Potential Impact: Grid disruption, financial fraud

Difficulty Level: Medium

DDoS Attacks

Potential Impact: Service disruption, revenue loss

Difficulty Level: Low

Firmware Manipulation

Potential Impact: Full charger compromise

Difficulty Level: High

Payment System Attacks

Potential Impact: Financial theft, data breach

Difficulty Level: Medium

V2G Exploitation

Potential Impact: Grid destabilization

Difficulty Level: High

Consequences of Cybersecurity Failures

Grid Stability Implications

The most significant risk of inadequate charging cybersecurity is potential disruption to the electrical grid. As noted by researchers at Sandia National Laboratories, "Can the grid be affected by electric vehicle charging equipment? Absolutely" . With high-power charging stations drawing 350-400+ kW (and even exceeding 1 MW for heavy-duty applications), coordinated attacks on charging networks could create substantial load imbalances potentially causing blackouts or requiring controlled outages.

Privacy and Financial Impacts

EV charging systems collect and process sensitive user data including payment information, location history, personal identities, and usage patterns. Compromised charging stations could lead to significant privacy violations and financial fraud. The integration with smart grid systems further expands the potential for energy theft through manipulated charging sessions.

Erosion of Public Trust

Beyond immediate technical impacts, cybersecurity incidents could undermine public confidence in EV technology, potentially slowing adoption rates. As charging infrastructure becomes essential transportation infrastructure, ensuring its reliability and security becomes crucial for the continued transition to electric mobility.

Standards and Frameworks for Cybersecurity

International Standards

Several international standards provide frameworks for securing EV charging infrastructure:

ISO 15118: This critical standard defines secure communication protocols between EVs and charging stations, supporting features like Plug & Charge (PnC) authentication using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption.

IEC 61851: Focuses on electrical safety and basic control of EV charging, working complementarily with ISO 15118's digital security provisions.

ISO 27001: Provides a comprehensive framework covering legal, physical, and technical security aspects relevant to charging infrastructure.

Industry Initiatives

The Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) has emerged as a widely adopted standard for communication between charging stations and central management systems. When implemented with security features including TLS encryption, authentication, and secure API access, OCPP can provide a robust foundation for secure charging operations. Industry groups like the Open Charge Alliance continue to develop and promote security standards while certification programs like DEKRA's three-level cybersecurity certification provide verification mechanisms for charging equipment.

Emerging Technologies and Defense Strategies

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Advanced AI techniques show significant promise for detecting and preventing cyber attacks on charging networks. Research published in Scientific Reports demonstrates how Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) integrated with deep learning models can predict cyber attacks with high accuracy. The study found that a GAN-GRU model exhibited the highest accuracy with the lowest mean absolute error (0.0281), enabling proactive defense against emerging threats.

Blockchain Applications

Blockchain technology offers potential solutions for secure transactions and decentralized energy trading in EV charging networks. By providing tamper-resistant records of charging transactions and energy transfers, blockchain can enhance transparency and security while supporting peer-to-peer energy trading applications.

Defense-in-Depth Approach

A comprehensive cybersecurity strategy employs multiple overlapping protective measures:

Physical security: Protecting charging hardware from unauthorized access 

Network security: Implementing firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and network segmentation 

Authentication and encryption: Using PKI, TLS, and secure authentication protocols 

Monitoring and detection: Deploying AI-powered anomaly detection systems 

Firmware security: Implementing secure boot processes and code signing 

Cybersecurity Technologies and Their Applications in EV Charging

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) – Used for Plug & Charge authentication, enabling secure and automatic identification of vehicles and chargers.

Transport Layer Security (TLS) – Provides encryption for data in transit, ensuring that communications between EVs, chargers, and backend systems remain protected.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Anomaly Detection – Helps predict and prevent attacks by analyzing patterns and identifying unusual behavior, offering proactive defense mechanisms.

Blockchain – Secures transactions and energy trading by maintaining tamper-resistant records, enhancing trust and transparency.

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) – Monitors network activity to detect suspicious behavior, allowing for real-time threat identification.

Institutional and Policy Responses

Government Initiatives

Recognizing the critical importance of charging infrastructure security, governments worldwide are implementing regulatory frameworks. The United States has established minimum cybersecurity standards for federally funded EV charging infrastructure projects through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation offers resources, data, and tools to inform cybersecurity decisions and has developed sample procurement language to help states meet federal requirements.

Public-Private Partnerships

Addressing EV charging cybersecurity requires collaboration across multiple sectors. The Joint Office collaborates with other government agencies, research partners, and industry stakeholders to develop and implement comprehensive security strategies. Research institutions like Sandia National Laboratories have conducted comprehensive studies of EV charging cybersecurity challenges and recommended solutions.

Certification and Compliance Programs

Third-party certification programs help ensure charging equipment meets security standards. DEKRA offers three levels of cybersecurity certification:

Level 1: Basic cybersecurity requirements

Level 2: Advanced security requirements including software assessment

Level 3: Penetration testing for comprehensive validation 

Future Challenges and Research Directions

Evolving Threat Landscape

The cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve with emerging threats including:

AI-powered attacks: Malicious use of artificial intelligence to develop more sophisticated attacks 

Supply chain compromises: Attacks targeting hardware and software supply chains 

Vehicle-to-grid exploitation: Novel attacks leveraging bidirectional charging capabilities

Research Priorities

Future research should address several critical areas:

Standardization: Developing unified security standards across manufacturers and jurisdictions 

Resilience architectures: Designing systems that can maintain operations during attacks 

Quantum resistance: Preparing for post-quantum cryptography threats 

Human factors: Addressing social engineering and human vulnerabilities 

Conclusion: Toward a Secure Electric Mobility Future

The transition to electric transportation represents one of the most significant technological shifts of our time. Ensuring the cybersecurity of charging infrastructure is not merely a technical challenge but a societal imperative that requires coordinated action across multiple domains. By implementing robust standards like ISO 15118, adopting advanced technologies including AI-powered defense systems, and fostering collaboration between public and private sectors, we can build charging networks that are both convenient and secure.

 The continued evolution of EV charging cybersecurity will require ongoing vigilance, adaptability, and investment as threats evolve and technology advances. With proper attention to these challenges, we can realize the full potential of electric transportation while ensuring the reliability and security of our critical infrastructure .

Citations:

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Image Citations:

1. Securing EV charging infrastructure Part 1: Why cybersecurity matters. (n.d.). Energy.gov. https://www.energy.gov/ceser/articles/securing-ev-charging-infrastructure-part-1-why-cybersecurity-matters

2. PlaxidityX. (2025, June 4). ISO 15118 and EV Cybersecurity: Securing the charging ecosystem. https://plaxidityx.com/blog/blog-post/iso-15118-ev-cybersecurity-guide/

3. Charging Summit, E. (2023, June 8). 5 Cybersecurity challenges facing the EV industry - EV charging. . . EV Charging Summit Blog. https://evchargingsummit.com/blog/cybersecurity-challenges-facing-ev-industry/

4. Tanyıldız, H., Şahin, C. B., Dinler, Ö. B., Migdady, H., Saleem, K., Smerat, A., Gandomi, A. H., & Abualigah, L. (2025). Detection of cyber attacks in electric vehicle charging systems using a remaining useful life generative adversarial network. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92895-9

5. Farnsworth, E. (2024, June 17). How improving EV charging infrastructure can bolster US cybersecurity measures. Cyber Defense Magazine. https://www.cyberdefensemagazine.com/how-improving-ev-charging-infrastructure-can-bolster-us-cybersecurity-measures/