Can EVs Be Hacked? Chinese EVs, Connected Cars & the Real Cybersecurity Risk

Why It Matters

Connected‑vehicle cyber risks threaten driver safety, privacy and the broader transition to electric mobility, making clear standards and consumer rights essential for market confidence.

Key Takeaways

• 90% of new Canadian cars are always internet‑connected.
• Jeep Cherokee hack showed remote control of vehicle functions is possible.
• Chinese EV ban reflects security concerns and trade policy alignment.
• Proposes physical “kill switch” and clear software‑update timelines for owners.
• Calls for mandatory third‑party cyber‑security audits of connected vehicles.

Summary

The video examines whether electric vehicles are uniquely vulnerable to hacking, and why the recent Canadian ban on Chinese EVs has sparked a broader debate about the security of all connected cars.

Since 2015, researchers have demonstrated remote exploits such as the Jeep Cherokee hack, where wipers, climate control and even transmission speed were commandeered over the internet. Subsequent findings, including a 2020 Nissan Leaf vulnerability, show that the issue transcends powertrains; roughly 90 % of new cars sold in Canada have a cellular or satellite link, and 47 % are permanently online, turning every vehicle into a data‑rich computer.

The speaker proposes three safeguards: a physical “kill switch” that disconnects the vehicle’s radio hardware, a consumer bill of rights that mandates a disclosed software‑support lifespan and open‑source patches, and regular, random third‑party security audits rather than one‑time compliance tests.

Implementing these measures would give owners tangible protection, reduce regulatory uncertainty, and preserve confidence in EV adoption while preventing privacy abuses and potential safety breaches that could arise from unchecked connectivity.

Original Description

Can EVs be hacked? And with Chinese EVs entering more markets, is this a real security concern — or are all modern cars now connected computers on wheels?

In this EV Society Mini Brief, host Tim Burrows speaks with David Shipley, CEO and Co-Founder of Beauceron Security, about the real cybersecurity questions facing modern vehicles — including Chinese EVs, other electric vehicles, and today’s internet-connected gasoline cars.

David explains why this is not just an EV issue, how the 2015 Jeep Cherokee hack changed the conversation, what connected vehicles are actually connected to, what kinds of vehicle data may be collected, and why cybersecurity, privacy, software updates, apps, Bluetooth, phone keys, charging networks, and cameras all matter.

The goal is not panic. It is practical understanding.

David also explains what better protection could look like, including stronger cybersecurity standards, a Connected Car Bill of Rights, clear software update commitments, independent testing, and a physical “right to disconnect” from external vehicle communications.

Guest: David Shipley, CEO and Co-Founder, Beauceron Securityhttps://www.beauceronsecurity.ca/

Host: Tim Burrows, Canada Talks Electric CarsPresented by the Electric Vehicle Society

CHAPTERS

00:00 Can EVs Be Hacked?

00:11 EVs and Cybersecurity

00:47 The Jeep Cherokee Hack

02:03 Not Just an EV Issue

03:01 What Cars Connect To

04:17 Remote Apps and Diagnostics

04:37 Vehicle Data and Insurance

05:27 Car Data and Subscriptions

06:15 Phone Keys and Security

07:03 Bluetooth, Cellular and Wi-Fi

07:50 Tire Sensors and Wireless Systems

08:13 Better Cybersecurity Standards

08:39 The Right to Disconnect

09:51 Connected Car Bill of Rights

11:02 Software Crash Testing

11:48 What Car Buyers Should Ask

12:35 EV Route Planning and Charging

13:16 Privacy, Cameras and Microphones

14:01 Should Cybersecurity Stop Buyers?

15:02 Final Takeaway

Canada Talks Electric Cars helps EV-curious viewers make sense of the shift to electric transportation through expert, practical, non-partisan information.

#EVs #Cybersecurity #ChineseEVs #ConnectedCars