Can an EV be hacked? Security agency looks into risk of China weaponising computers after US electric car ban

Security agencies harbour real concerns about the hackability of everyday devices and the ability of foreign powers to weaponise devices for nefarious means.

The issue of device tampering reached a fever pitch after the deadly explosions of hundreds of rigged pagers and walkie-talkies used by the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah weeks ago.

The strikes, alleged but not claimed to be orchestrated by Israel, killed 37 people, including children, and injured thousands more.

Now Western democracies have raised concerns about the risk of China weaponising the technology it exports to the world — from fridges and TVs to solar panels and electric vehicles.

The US has banned Chinese-connected technology from vehicles that are driven in the States over concerns about the hardware and software.

Australian security agencies, meanwhile, are looking into the possible risks foreign-made computers pose to the nation as part of a $600 million boost to cybersecurity — $70 million of which is focused on countering foreign interference.

Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said Australia needed to be “confident we can withstand the remote accessing and potential spying” that a range of devices may be susceptible to.

“There are computers in cars, in fridges, in your microwave, in your TV. Of course, all of them, potentially, can be accessed remotely,” Ms Plibersek told Sunrise on Monday morning.

But Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said if household devices were at risk, so were our cars.

“They (foreign forces) can plant code, meaning they have the capacity to access it later on. We’ve got to be aware of this.”

Could my EV be hacked?

In February 2024, US President Joe Biden described modern cars and their litany of apps, sensors, and cameras used in driving as “smartphones on wheels”.

Mr Biden said vehicles connected to companies with ties to the Chinese Community Party (CCP) could send “sensitive data” about citizens and infrastructure back to China, or be accessed and disabled.

And like any smart device, if it is connected to the internet, the more susceptible it is to being infiltrated.

Electric vehicles may be particularly vulnerable by virtue of many of their onboard operating systems being connected to the internet, or their compatibility with third-party apps and services.

In fact, EV’s have been the target of hacking demonstrations before.

In 2016, Chinese security researchers cracked into a Tesla’s Controller Area Network (CAN bus) — the system that lets a car’s systems talk to each other — and took control of the EV.

In 2022, a German IT specialist hacked 25 Teslas around the world through a third-party app and was able to unlock doors and windows, play the stereo, and start the cars’ engines.

Hackers can also use physical tools to hack into a car: key fobs, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and memory card slots. Even EV charging cables can act as a trojan horse for hackers.

Public EV charging stations pose a particular threat because of the connection can involve communication with the driver’s phone, the charger management system, and the payment portal as well as the cable and car.

Yet, while hacking is proven to be possible, car companies are getting faster at identifying bugs and vulnerabilities and fixing them before trouble arises.

Should Australia follow the US’ steps and ban Chinese technology in cars?

The US Department of Commerce will ban the use of Chinese-made software in new cars from 2026 and hardware from 2029.

It’s worth noting, though, the US has been burned before by letting Chinese technology spread unchecked before: by the expansion of the tech brand Huawei that allowed China to gain unbridled access to critical telecommunications networks.

Also, only a small proportion of vehicles sold in the US use software and operating systems made in China; what Chinese tech they do have is integrated into systems made by European and US brands.

Australia, however, is much more reliant on Chinese-made vehicles. In fact, China is Australia’s third-largest source of new vehicles and the largest source of EV.

China supplies about 15 per cent of Australia’s new car market — tailing Japan and Thailand — with Chinese manufacturers BYD, MG and GWM some of the fastest-growing brands on our roads.

Established brands such as Tesla, Volvo and BMW also source some of their models from China.

Australia has banned Chinese technology in the past, though, blocking Huawei from our 5G network over security concerns.

Although experts have warned connected vehicles are effectively “surveillance devices” and Australia’s Privacy Act is “outdated” and not up to scratch with this technology, a ban is not a sure-thing.

Cox Automotive Ausrtalia corporate affairs manager Mike Costello told news.com.au the US ban on Chinese technology in cars would make Australia’s market even more lucrative to our Pacific neighbours.

He said any move to ban the technology in Australia would be costly to the government: both in its own endeavours to get more EV’s on the road, and in voter popularity, because it could push car prices up.