DTE takes prominent role in public-private effort to protect grid from cyber attacks on EVs

DTE Energy is one of several major partners joining efforts by Michigan-based The Dream Team LLC to create novel infrastructure capable of resisting cyber attacks on electric vehicles (EVs) and their charging systems, thereby shielding the larger energy grid from assault.

Otherwise, some experts fear, a hacker could gain access to the broader grid through charging systems, or by infecting EVs with viruses. Researchers have theorized that the communication and control interfaces responsible for Internet of Things networks, or the reporting of an electric vehicle’s public charging efforts via smartphone, could allow hackers an easy way in through which to assail the stability of the grid.

This may not seem like a major threat currently, but given that Steve Ambrose, DTE’s Chief Information Officer, expects the number of electric vehicles on the road to reach nearly 20 million within 10 years, EV charging stations will need to increase in number as well. That also means more access points for hackers.

In order to develop the first-of-its-kind infrastructure to protect the grid, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) put up the largest share of funding for the project in the form of a $4.7 million grant. That was bolstered by another $2.3 million from private industry partners including DTE Energy, NextEnergy, the University of Michigan, Wayne State University, and others. Their contributions may include more than direct funding — these figures could also include discounted rates, provided equipment and provided asset availability.

“This public/private partnership is funding infrastructure that will make electric vehicles and
electric vehicle charging stations more cybersecure,” Ambrose told Daily Energy Insider. “We have a strong commitment to electric vehicles and keeping electric vehicles and charging stations safe from cyberattacks is an essential step in making the switch to EV a possibility for drivers everywhere.”

The effort fits neatly into work electric companies like DTE are taking everyday to guarantee the security, reliability and resiliency of the grid is kept up to date. Ambrose noted that DTE, for example, regularly works with other companies to identify risks, drill for emergency situations, as well as to share information and resources. This grant funding effort is an example of such cooperation in the R&D realm, and a necessary one.

“While the number of EVs and charging stations is scaling up, we need to scale up cybersecurity efforts as well,” Ambrose said. “The good news is that researching cybersecurity while these technologies are still in their infancy gives us the chance to create more effective solutions. We can demonstrate early on how cybersecurity can be integrated into electric vehicles and the EV infrastructure to protect the grid against increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals.”

As to the technology itself, The Dream Team seeks to create a system capable of use by both existing EV charging systems and any new technologies that come down the line, such as in-motion or dynamic wireless EV charging.
Duncan Woodbury, CEO of The Dream Team LLC, said, “We are on a mission with the DOE and its leading national laboratories, industry and academia to democratize access to new energy markets and to de-risk investments and widespread adoption of renewable and sustainable energy systems.”

Testing will be kept in Michigan at the American Center for Mobility. DTE’s expertise will assist in efforts with the grid, while the center provides grounds for testing the capabilities of this technology to detect and deflect future attacks in real-time.