AI Could Protect Your Electric Car From Cyberattacks

As electric vehicles (EVs) grow in popularity, their charging stations are becoming prime targets for cybercriminals. Hackers could disrupt power grids, steal sensitive data, or even take control of charging systems.

To combat this, researchers have developed an AI system that can forecast cyberattacks before they strike—giving operators crucial time to intervene.

A new study published in Scientific Reports introduces an AI-powered cybersecurity tool that predicts when an attack is likely to occur on an EV charging station. The system, based on a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN), estimates the Remaining Useful Life (RUL)—essentially calculating how much time remains before a cyberattack might happen.

By analyzing patterns in past attacks, the AI can warn operators in advance, allowing them to strengthen defenses or shut down vulnerable systems.

These AI systems were trained on real-world cyberattack data, including denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, ransomware, and data breaches, ensuring they could recognize both known and emerging threats.

Cyberattacks on EV charging stations are not just theoretical—they’ve already happened. The paper notes that in 2018 security researchers demonstrated how hackers could remotely disable charging stations.

The authors also cite that in 2021 a simulated attack in Europe revealed how cybercriminals could manipulate charging loads to destabilize power grids. And in 2023, a ransomware attack temporarily shut down charging networks in the U.S. and Europe.

These incidents highlight the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity measures.The researchers say that the new AI system offers several key advantages.

First, it reduces false alarms, ensuring operators only act on credible threats. Second, it provides early warnings, giving technicians time to patch vulnerabilities or isolate compromised systems. Third, it continuously improves by learning from new attack patterns, making it more effective over time.

Looking ahead, researchers suggest integrating this AI with blockchain technology to further secure transactions and user data. They also recommend real-world testing in live charging networks to refine the system’s accuracy.

As EV adoption accelerates, AI-driven cybersecurity could be the key to keeping charging stations—and the broader power grid—safe from hackers. With cyber threats growing more sophisticated, AI-powered defenses may soon become a standard feature in EV charging networks worldwide.