Securing power grids and charging infrastructure: Cyberattack resilience and vehicle-to-grid integration

Abstract

The increasing interconnectivity of power grids and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations exposes them to the ever-growing threat of cyberattacks. This paper proposes a multifaceted approach that addresses the interdependencies between power grids, charging stations, and EVs. We explore a new EV routing challenge that includes regulations for charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) discharging. We estimate charging demands by analyzing EV usage patterns, charging/discharging plans, charging station availability, and user preferences such as routing and driver anxiety. The study explores a new EV charging optimization scenario considering charging costs, traffic, travel time, and setup time. A vital aspect of the proposed model is its ability to facilitate bidirectional energy flow between EVs and the power grid. This strategy enhances grid stability and facilitates efficient energy management, with charging stations actively participating in load balancing, peak shaving, and grid stabilization during a cyberattack. Furthermore, we formulate a network interdiction problem that strategically removes specific links in the power network to prevent the spread of a cyberattack. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is evaluated through five case studies. The findings suggest that the proposed hybrid planning solution (Case 5) is the most effective strategy. It successfully achieves zero load-shedding, reduces the charging and discharging constraints for electric vehicles (EVs), and eliminates susceptible nodes.