While electric vehicles represent a significant advancement in automotive technology, their sophisticated digital architecture presents unprecedented cybersecurity challenges for manufacturers and consumers alike. Modern EVs utilize dozens of onboard computers and hundreds of sensors, creating an expansive attack surface that far exceeds traditional vehicles. This digital transformation has exposed critical vehicle systems—not merely infotainment, but core functions like powertrain controls, braking systems, and advanced driver assistance systems—to potential remote compromise.
Electric vehicles’ digital complexity creates security vulnerabilities that extend beyond entertainment to critical driving systems.
The vulnerabilities extend beyond the vehicle itself. EV charging infrastructure represents a particularly concerning attack vector, with each charging station effectively functioning as an IoT endpoint. These stations are susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks, payment system exploitation, and even malicious firmware updates. The CESER initiative is actively funding research to address these security risks in charging infrastructure. The UK’s 2022 mandate requiring all new residential properties to include EV chargers demonstrates the rapidly expanding footprint—and corresponding risk profile—of charging networks worldwide.
Perhaps most concerning is the susceptibility of in-vehicle networks. The CAN bus protocol, ubiquitous in modern vehicles, was never designed with cybersecurity in mind. Attackers who gain access can manipulate critical systems, potentially controlling acceleration, braking, or steering functions. EVs represent a critical technology for reducing the 10% of global CO2 emissions currently generated by internal combustion vehicles. The integration of solid-state batteries could further complicate security measures while promising greater energy density and range for electric vehicles.
I’ve examined several instances where sensor spoofing enabled attackers to feed false inputs to safety systems, creating potentially catastrophic scenarios.
Connectivity channels present additional risk vectors. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cellular interfaces, and even digital keys create pathways for exploitation. Over-the-air updates, while convenient, introduce the possibility of malicious code injection directly into vehicle systems. The automotive industry has yet to fully reckon with these challenges.
The data privacy implications cannot be overlooked either. EVs collect substantial user information—driving patterns, location data, and charging behaviors—that, if compromised, could facilitate sophisticated surveillance or identity theft.
As electric mobility advances, the imperative to secure these rolling computers becomes increasingly urgent. The road to electrification must include equally advanced cybersecurity protections.
