An Identity-Based Secure Authentication Framework for On-Demand Electric Vehicle Charging Systems

Abstract

The rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) has significantly increased the demand for efficient and secure charging infrastructure. As EV charging systems evolve into intelligent and interconnected platforms, ensuring secure authentication of vehicles becomes a critical requirement. Unauthorized access, energy theft, and cyber-attacks pose serious threats to the reliability and integrity of EV charging networks. Traditional authentication mechanisms often rely on centralized systems or password-based methods, which are vulnerable to various security risks.This research proposes an identity-based authentication framework for on-demand EV charging systems, leveraging cryptographic techniques to ensure secure and efficient vehicle authentication. The proposed system eliminates the need for complex certificate management by utilizing identity-based cryptography, where a trusted authority generates private keys based on unique vehicle identities.The system incorporates a secure authentication protocol using cryptographic hash functions and HMAC (Hash-based Message Authentication Code). Each electric vehicle is assigned a unique private key derived from its identity and a master secret maintained by the trusted authority. During the authentication process, a nonce is generated to ensure freshness and prevent replay attacks. The system computes a pseudonymous identity and authentication token, which are verified using HMAC-based validation.A graphical user interface is developed using Tkinter to simulate the EV charging environment. The system allows vehicle registration, wallet management, charging session initiation, and transaction logging. A lightweight SQLite database is used to store vehicle information and charging logs, ensuring efficient data management.The authentication process is designed to be computationally efficient, enabling real-time validation without significant delays. Performance evaluation is conducted by measuring authentication time, demonstrating the system’s capability to handle multiple sessions efficiently.The proposed system enhances security by providing features such as mutual authentication, resistance to replay attacks, and protection against identity spoofing. It also ensures data integrity and confidentiality during communication between EVs and charging stations.Experimental results indicate that the system achieves low authentication latency while maintaining high security standards. The framework is scalable and can be integrated into smart grid environments and IoT-based EV infrastructures.In conclusion, the proposed identity-based authentication system provides a secure, efficient, and scalable solution for modern EV charging networks. It addresses key security challenges and contributes to the development of reliable and intelligent transportation systems.