UK military sites ban EVs with Chinese parts over spying fears

• Some military bases in the United Kingdom are banning electric vehicles with Chinese parts because of concerns over potential spying from Beijing. The move comes amid a report that warned of potential covert operations from China through EV technology.
• The concerns come as practically all EVs have some Chinese parts.
• The UK government plans to introduce a fleet of 40,000 EVs for government officials by the end of 2027.

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Some of the United Kingdom’s most sensitive military sites are banning electric vehicles over fears that Chinese technology installed in them could be used for spying. Officials at an air base in Cambridgeshire, home to some of the most vital intelligence programs in the UK, said the military installation is ordering EVs not to park near the site.

They must be at least two miles away, according to media reports. 

The move came after Ministry of Defense officials warned others could track these vehicles remotely.

Does the ban cover all military facilities?

UK military officials previously said there is no “centrally mandated policy on the movement of Chinese-manufactured vehicles.” They acknowledged that certain military sites may have more restrictions. However, they did not give specifics, citing security concerns.

“Our policies and procedures take account of the potential threats from all types of vehicles, not just those manufactured in China, and we have issued appropriate internal direction to all drivers and passengers,” Defense Minister Lord Vernon Coaker said in a written statement to Parliament last month, according to The Financial Times.

Why are electric vehicles a point of concern?

Practically all EVs have Chinese auto parts, as Beijing leads the world in battery technology and sensors. Intelligence officials in the UK fear this equipment could gather sensitive data through remote means. They could even eavesdrop on conversations within vehicles, according to a report from the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).

The findings come after officials reportedly discovered a hidden Chinese tracking system in former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s car in 2023.

Sunak’s administration did not deny the report.

The Telegraph wrote that concerns over Chinese spying may impact a global demand for EVs. Customers may demand more security guarantees.

UK to implement all-EV fleet by 2027

UK central government officials plan to use an all-EV fleet by the end of 2027 as they seek to go green.

The DSTL report stated that EVs are “basically mobile spying platforms,” including ones made in the West using Chinese parts.

Concerns over spying led the DSTL to call on officials to investigate connected vehicles’ vulnerability to espionage from China. 

All EVs are considered “connected” because data is sent outside the vehicle through the internet or other means. Some gas and diesel vehicles are also designated as “connected” for the same reasons.

Security exemptions for the all-green fleet do exist.

UK officials said “vehicles that must conduct covert surveillance operations” are exempt, The Telegraph wrote. Officials noted that to obtain a security exemption, a government agency must “provide evidence to demonstrate it has explored all available options to meet the commitment.”

As the UK commits to making its fleet of 40,000 government vehicles electric by 2027, the latest concerns may potentially lead to the country scrapping the plan, The Telegraph said.

The news outlet also pointed out there is no ban on Chinese-made EVs being purchased for government vehicles.

The nation’s Department of Transportation pushed back on the assumption they would ditch the current EV transition plan, saying it remains steadfast in its commitment to going green in a little more than two years.