Privacy-friendly and efficient secure communication framework for V2G networks

The vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology enables electric vehicles to deliver electricity into power systems, providing them supplementary capacity. On the other hand, a new set of security threats are brought to smart grid participants by V2G networks. However, security and privacy in V2G networks have so far received little attention, despite a rich literature on the design of conceptual structures or the impact of V2G networks on the current grid. In this study, the authors explore the features of V2G communication networks and identify their security challenges for communication functions. The authors then establish a novel and secure communication framework for V2G networks to achieve a balance among security, privacy preservation, efficiency and accountability without relying on any trusted third party. The feasibility of the framework is demonstrated by experimental results.