Outline for Automatic_CAN_Communication_in_EVs_presentation

1. Automatic CAN Communication
and Cybersecurity in EV
Architecture
A System-Level Perspective
Keerthana Sahadevan
15-Minute Technical Review

2. Why Communication Is Critical in
EVs
• Electric vehicles consist of multiple distributed
ECUs
– Battery, motor, and charging systems are safety-
critical
– Real-time coordination is mandatory
– Communication failure can directly impact vehicle
safety

3. Typical EV Electronic Architecture
Battery
+BMS
VCU
Inverter
& Motor
On-Board
Charger
DC-DC
Converter

4. In-Vehicle Communication
Networks
• CAN – Powertrain, BMS, charging systems
– LIN – Low-speed sensors and actuators
– FlexRay – Legacy deterministic systems
– Ethernet – ADAS and infotainment
– CAN dominates EV powertrain due to robustness
and determinism

5. What Is Automatic CAN
Communication?
• Message-based protocol (not address-based)
– No master node in the network
– Event-driven message transmission
– Priority-based arbitration
– ECUs operate autonomously based on received
messages

6. CAN Arbitration and Safety
• Lower CAN identifier corresponds to higher
priority
– Dominant and recessive bit mechanism avoids
collisions
– Ensures deterministic bus access
– Safety-critical messages always win arbitration

7. CAN Communication at
Component Level
• BMS: State-of-Charge, temperature, fault flags
– VCU: Torque commands and operating modes
– Inverter: Speed and current feedback
– On-Board Charger: Voltage, current, charging
status

8. Device and Equipment Perspective
• Commercial BMS ICs integrate CAN/CAN-FD
– Examples: TI BQ769x, NXP MC33771, ADI LTC6811
– Continuous monitoring and fault detection
– Faults and limits are broadcast via CAN messages

9. CAN Communication During EV
Charging
• BMS defines voltage, current, and
temperature limits
– VCU authorizes and supervises charging
– On-Board Charger regulates power flow
– Continuous CAN feedback ensures charging safety

10. Cybersecurity Awareness in EV
CAN
• CAN lacks built-in authentication
– No encryption of messages
– Trust-based network architecture
– Vulnerable to spoofing and replay attacks

11. Industry Response and Standards
• ISO 21434 – Road vehicle cybersecurity
– UNECE R155 – Cybersecurity regulation
– Secure gateways and network segmentation
– CAN intrusion detection systems

12. Summary and Open Questions
• CAN is the safety communication backbone of
EVs
– Automatic arbitration enables reliable real-time
control
– Device-level behavior is critical for safety
– Cybersecurity must be addressed at system level
– Guidance sought on real-world validation practices