Major safety warning for EV owners over fears brakes and steering could be HACKED

ELECTRIC car owners have been given a major safety warning amid fears their brakes and steering could be hacked.

Drivers are being put on alert that Chinese government-linked groups have the potential to control EVs (electric vehicles) remotely.

The concerns have been raised in a report by a Chinese surveillance expert who said EVs were especially vulnerable, with cars' brakes and steering being potential targets.

Christopher Balding fears the threat will only soar as the EV market grows, encouraged by governments intent on hitting green targets.

Mr Balding, founder of non-profit think-tank Kite Data Labs, issued the warning in a report "Chinese Automobile Surveillance Capabilities".

He wrote that hackers would be able to not only monitor and track where EVs are travelling but also take over their operating systems.

He said: "This would mean control over the braking system or on-board microphone."

He described how enemies could hack into an EV's battery which he described as the vehicle's "heart and brain", linked to systems including braking as well as in-car entertainment.

And he told the : “Government-linked groups would be able to listen into a car, or compromise the braking system, as they would have the component car code from the manufacturer."

His report found evidence he says shows Chinese authorities and companies have "broad access" to EV data including their locations.

The UK government has announced a ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles which is due to start in 2030, although prime minister Rishi Sunak has faced pressure to delay it.

And a cross-party group of MPs last month warned Britain's car market could lose control of its "critical infrastructure" to China where EV manufacturing is surging.

They highlighted what they called "all the attendant security risks".

Mr Balding did say he had not yet seen evidence of any Chinese agencies taking control of an EV or listening to in-car conversations.

But he insisted many people in the EV sector told him such hacks could take place.

And he urged concern about Chinese organisations managing to breach privacy and collect data such as how many people are in an EV even whether they are wearing seatbelts.

He added: "The more likely scenario is rather than a rash of Brits dying because the brakes don’t work is that Chinese organisations collect data on you, like recordings which could be later used against you."

The latest EV fears come amid other complaints about their safety, cost and usefulness.

A study by manufacturers Vauxhall revealed two thirds of local authority areas across the UK have no roadside chargers for EVs.

Cumbria, Somerset and Yorkshire were among the worst blackspots.

EV drivers can be left to rely on buying and installing their own pricy home charging points.

Meanwhile, a mechanic with 55 years' experience explained three reasons why EV prices were dropping.

An electric car owner outlined three why he was trading in a Mercedes 250 EQA and going back to diesel.

A motoring guru told why he feels EVs "aren't the future", having taken the latest Porsche for a spin.

And other car experts issued advice on the five most common complaints from EV owners as well as how to remedy them.