SecurEV: AI-Powered Real-Time Cyber Defense for EV Charging Infrastructure

Electric vehicles (EV) play a critical role in curbing climate change as they provide an emissions-free alternative to fossil-based modes of transport. Additionally, intelligent EV charging can participate in demand response programs and provide grid services, helping to balance the intermittency of re- newable generation. However, EV chargers can be vulnerable to cyberattacks, impeding or altering the charging process, which can lead to EVs failing to charge and more significantly, overloading local distribution circuits. In addition, there exists a substantial gap in introducing cybersecu- rity measures in communication linkages between EV chargers and charging management systems (CMS). These challenges, coupled with the quickly growing demand for EV charging, create a potentially vulnerable critical infrastructure for the future of transportation. This project will design, validate, and pilot a prototype of SecurEV, an AI-powered real-time cyber defense technology for EV charging infrastructure, built to enhance the security and reliability of EV charging infrastructure in commercial applications. SecurEV will provide bidirectional security, securing communication at the charger and CMS levels by including gateway and cloud components. Both use an AI-powered attack mitigation module capable of mitigating the effects of attacks on CMS and local attacks on EV chargers. The SecurEV Gateway replicates all incoming and outgoing data messages over different communication channels, ensuring connectivity even if a channel goes down. The technology is compliant with the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), making it compatible with the majority of chargers and CMS on the market today as well as Grid Elevatedĺs smart EV charging solution, IntelliChargeÖ. SecurEV mitigates a range of anomalies varying in complexity to increase the uptime of public and private commercial EV chargers while ensuring secure operations of smart charging networks. During Phase I, Grid Elevated will (1) develop the ALSTM-based cyber defense module and the technology architecture, (2) carry out preliminary feasibility studies and proof of concept to pilot and validate the technology in currently installed Grid Elevated EV chargers, (3) perform the market research and develop the commercialization plan to take SecurEV to market. SecurEV is expected to have widespread applications for EV chargers, CMS providers, and facility commuter services managers. It will directly impact the cybersecurity of current and future charger installations, improving charger uptime, increasing revenue, and decreasing maintenance costs by mitigating cyberattacks on EV charging infrastructure. The EV market is expected to reach $220.36 billion by 2030; SecurEV will ensure security in this rapidly growing market. Summary for the members of the congress: Communication between EV chargers and charging management systems, enables intelligent EV charging to decrease electricity costs, increase system reliability, and promote sustainability. How- ever, communication between chargers and their software can be attacked, causing EVs to fail to charge, and potentially damage physical infrastructure. This project will develop SecurEV, an AI-powered real-time cyber defense technology for EV charging infrastructure in commercial applications to mitigate the impacts of cyberattacks on the infrastructure.