UK bans EVs from some military bases over Chinese spy fears

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Some of the safest military sites in Britain are restricting access to electric cars due to fears that the Chinese technology embedded inside the vehicles can be used for spying.

RAF Wyton employees – an air base in Cambridgeshire that includes intelligence operations – were informed by avoiding EVS parking near the base in the case of vehicle sensors, according to the Ministry of Defense officials.

The site is among the many who are restricted to access to vehicles, although the administration has refused to provide a full list for security reasons.

Last month, Defense Minister Lord Vernon Kakkker told parliament that there is no “central central policy for the movement of Chinese manufactured vehicles”, but some sites have specific rules.

He said in a written answer: “We realize that individual defense organizations may have more stringent requirements related to electric cars in some locations, but we do not provide specific details for security reasons.”

“Our policies and actions take into account the potential threats of all types of vehicles, and not only those manufactured in China, and we have issued the appropriate internal trend for all drivers and passengers,” he added.

Almost all EVS contains Chinese parts, partly due to Chinese lead in battery technology and sensors. There are concerns that the batteries management, diagnoses or sensors used to help driving can be exploited to collect sensitive data or remote control.

The Ministry of Defense refused to identify the GPS.

“Protection of national security is the basis of everything we do,” he said. “We have strict security measures to ensure the protection of all sensitive information.”

Restrictions are in line with the broader Western concerns regarding Chinese technology, which are widely spread in critical infrastructure.

Intelligence agencies have warned that some Chinese manufactured systems can be used for remote measurement, site data and even audio recordings.

The United Kingdom has previously pledged to remove equipment from the Huawei telecommunications company from government buildings, and to exclude its equipment from the next generation of 5G across the country.

Fears are expressed about modern cars that are used for spying for some time. In 2021, China banned Tesla cars – which were equipped with multiple cameras – from the introduction of military complexes into concerns that can be used to collect intelligence.

The Financial Times reported earlier this year that the Security Directory of the Ministry of Defense was recently updated with instructions that military personnel should avoid talks on sensitive issues in vehicles, or near smart technology, a policy that “applies to all vehicles, regardless of the type or origin.”

“We continue to work through the government on the potential effects of connected vehicles,” added one of the UK officials.