MILITARY EVS
4. The Chevrolet Colorado
ZH2 by General Motors is
an extreme off-roadcapable
fuel-cell-powered
electric vehicle
5. GM’s hydrogen fuel cell
technology is currently
being tested by the US
military to determine its
viability for future use
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98 // January 2020 // www.electrichybridvehicletechnology.com
Leading cyber security expert Kaspersky Lab
has been vocal about the vulnerabilities of EVs
and the resulting issues that arise with
neglecting this subject.
In one experiment, Kaspersky Lab experts
discovered that electric vehicle chargers
supplied by a major vendor carried
vulnerabilities that could be exploited by
cyberattackers, and that the consequences
of a successful attack could include damage
to the home electricity network.
Although these military concepts are highly
unlikely to ever employ the use of a domestic
charging network, innovators in the combat
vehicle fi eld understand the risk to any
connected system in today’s age of modern,
technology-based warfare.
As a result, institutions such as NATO have
been holding regular ‘live fi re’ drills that
simulate cyberattacks on military networks.
NATO’s Locked Shield Exercise pits some of
the most talented hackers in the world against
one another in an annual simulated
cyberattack scenario to ensure it continues to
stay ahead of the threat.
To the consumer’s eye, development in the
passenger car EV market might seem slow and
steady, but with multi billion-dollar contracts
on the table for military innovators, electric
propulsion will lead the charge onto the
battlefi eld of the future.
emissions-free miles, with water the only thing
emitted from the tailpipes.
But more importantly for military use, these
hydrogen fuel cell vehicles could also act as
transportable generators for auxiliary systems,
such as radar and weapons-controlling
computer networks.
David Albritton, president of GM Defense,
told the USA’s National Defense Magazine
during a military forum earlier this year: “If
you think about operators at the pointy end
of the spear, their power source today is mostly
dragging along heavy diesel engines.
“They have an odor. They’re loud. It’s a very
ine cient way to create power. With our
product, not only can you take the vehicle and
power the vehicle from point A to B, you can
then export that power for a variety of usages.”
Ahead of security
Alongside the developmental issues
surrounding electric vehicles for military use,
there is also call from the cyber security
industry for increased levels of protection
in electric vehicles.
“Electric propulsion is more
efficient and reliable than
existing mechanical propulsion
and allows a higher degree of
control and startup speed”
Dr David Moore, campaign director of electrical propulsion & drivetrains, QinetiQ
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