Mike Gallagher, a former U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District, has raised concerns about the potential risks posed by hidden communication devices in Chinese-made inverters. He highlighted these issues on X, emphasizing the threat if malware were to infiltrate electric vehicles associated with Chinese suppliers such as Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL).
"In May, U.S. officials found undocumented communication devices in Chinese‑made inverters that could send back data or let in malware," said Gallagher, Former U.S representative. "Now imagine that malware not only connected to the grid but also to electric vehicles made by CATL. a Chinese supplier with military ties."
In May 2024, U.S. officials discovered undocumented cellular communication devices embedded in Chinese-made solar inverters. These findings have raised alarms regarding data exfiltration or malware insertion that could jeopardize electric grid operations. According to the Department of Energy, these inverters are crucial components of solar power systems and possess the capability to transmit operational data to unspecified remote locations while potentially receiving unauthorized software updates. Such vulnerabilities could be exploited by foreign adversaries to disrupt critical power systems or facilitate cyberattacks targeting the U.S. grid.
A report from the U.S. Congressional Research Service indicates that grid-connected devices and electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly networked, leading to cyber-physical risks where a breach in one sector could cascade into others, such as EVs or charging infrastructure. The report highlights that malware in critical infrastructure could exploit supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly when components originate from countries deemed strategic competitors like China.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that Chinese companies, including CATL, supply over 75% of the world’s lithium-ion batteries, resulting in significant global dependency on Chinese supply chains for the EV industry. This concentration raises national security and cybersecurity concerns as disruptions or embedded vulnerabilities could impact millions of vehicles and critical infrastructure worldwide. The IEA advocates for more rigorous supply chain scrutiny and international cooperation to mitigate these risks.
Gallagher is a distinguished fellow at the Hudson Institute and serves as head of defense at Palantir Technologies. He represented Wisconsin’s Eighth District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2017 to 2024 and chaired the Select Committee on Strategic Competition with the Chinese Communist Party. Gallagher played a leading role in cybersecurity and national security policy during his tenure. Before Congress, he served as a Marine Corps intelligence officer and received multiple awards for his bipartisan leadership on national security issues.
