Sandia develops mobile cybersecurity test for electric vehicle charging stations

Sandia, in partnership with Argonne National Laboratory, developed a new approach that allows for agile, mobile testing of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The new testing method, which focuses on communications and cybersecurity functionality of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), could fill a critical need in the future of grid security related to electric vehicle use.

Prior to development of this more agile testing, electric vehicle original equipment manufacturers and EVSE vendors were forced to bring pre-production or production vehicles and charging stations to in-person testing, which is a cumbersome and expensive process. The new process uses commercial-off-the-shelf hardware and open-source software to demonstrate a more agile and productive approach that tests cybersecurity and interoperability.

“Sandia developed a more agile approach, using low-voltage control and communications EVs and EVSE controllers separately from high-voltage power delivery sub-systems. This new method allows communications controllers to be transported and set up on a tabletop. They also use ordinary 120 VAC outlets, which allows for more agile testing,” explains Arturo Bretas, Sandia’s Electric Grid Security and Communications manager.

This work is currently sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office.

Learn more about Sandia’s impactful work in grid cybersecurity and beyond.