An Overview of Cyber-Physical Security of Battery Management Systems and Adoption of Blockchain Technology

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are a key energy storage component in various electrical and electronic systems, such as mobile phones and electric vehicles. A properly designed battery management system (BMS) is crucial to guarantee the safety, reliability, and optimal performance of the battery, as well as to interconnect the battery systems with each other and external systems through communication channels. However, security threats of the Li-ion battery systems are often overlooked by BMS developers in the design phase. The cybersecurity of BMSs is an essential factor to consider as more battery systems require internet connectivity for functionality, such as intelligent monitoring, control, and maintenance. This article discusses the overall security vulnerabilities from potential cyber-attacks and defense strategies, as well as the adoption of current blockchain technology in BMSs, which will be used as a cybersecurity baseline reference to BMS developers. The implementation of blockchain technology is promising to protect BMSs from malicious cyber-physical attacks and ensure the secure utilization of battery systems for numerous applications in cyber-physical environments.