Dynamic Load Altering EV Attacks Against Power Grid Frequency Control

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel attack strategy using EV charging manipulation, based on feedback control theory, capable of destabilizing power grids and causing blackouts even with limited load control.

Contribution

It introduces a dynamic load altering attack method on EV infrastructure using LMIs, demonstrating its effectiveness against a real power grid model.

Findings

Attack can destabilize grid with only 200 MW EV load control

Successfully causes grid instability and blackouts in simulations

Validates attack effectiveness on Kundur 2-area grid

Abstract

Driven by the necessity to combat climate change, Electric Vehicles (EV) are being deployed to take advantage of their ability in reducing emissions generated by the transportation sector. This deployment has left the power grid vulnerable to attacks through the EV infrastructure. This paper is written from an attacker\'s perspective and proposes a dynamic load altering strategy through manipulating EV charging to destabilize the grid. The attack is formulated based on feedback control theory, i.e., designing an attack based on Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs). After the stability metric and controller design have been established, we demonstrate our attack method against the Kundur 2 area grid. The attack scenario includes a cap of 200 MW EV load controlled by the attacker. However, the results show that even with this limitation, the attacker would be successful in pushing the grid toward instability and blackout.