US highways may have Chinese 'problem': Officials to check these equipments
US officials have issued a warning against solar-powered highway infrastructure, a report claims. The Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration has reportedly cautioned officials that solar equipment on US highways, including chargers and traffic cameras, may contain hidden radios and other rogue Chinese devices . An advisory from the department has also suggested that these components should be inspected. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, a four-page security note from the department stated that undocumented cellular radios had been found in "certain foreign-manufactured power inverters and BMS" (battery management systems). However, the note did not specify the country of origin, but many inverters are made in China. The warning comes amid escalating government concerns about the presence of Chinese technology in US infrastructure .
Why solar equipment on highways is worrying US officials
As per the Reuters report, US officials are increasingly worried that inverters and battery management systems could be embedded with hidden components enabling remote interference by Beijing. The report also cited Anomadarshi Barua, a George Mason University academic who has written about security weaknesses in inverters, which convert solar or wind energy into usable electricity and has explained how they could be exploited to send rogue commands or cause power surges.
"That could create a lot of havoc," Barua cautioned, noting that it may be used to disrupt roadside infrastructure or, in the future, interfere with systems that keep autonomous cars operational.
In May, Reuters reported that US officials grew concerned after experts discovered rogue communication devices in some Chinese inverters and batteries. Green Power Denmark later said similar unexplained components were found in imported equipment for its energy grid.
The Federal Highway Administration’s advisory cited reports of “undocumented cellular radios” in inverters and batteries, warning they could pose a risk. The US Department of Transportation said the advisory "summarises public and unclassified reporting to ensure agencies are implementing practical mitigation steps."
The Chinese Embassy in Washington responded that it opposed "the distortion and smear of China's achievements in the field of energy infrastructure."
Why solar equipment on highways is worrying US officials
As per the Reuters report, US officials are increasingly worried that inverters and battery management systems could be embedded with hidden components enabling remote interference by Beijing. The report also cited Anomadarshi Barua, a George Mason University academic who has written about security weaknesses in inverters, which convert solar or wind energy into usable electricity and has explained how they could be exploited to send rogue commands or cause power surges.
"That could create a lot of havoc," Barua cautioned, noting that it may be used to disrupt roadside infrastructure or, in the future, interfere with systems that keep autonomous cars operational.
In May, Reuters reported that US officials grew concerned after experts discovered rogue communication devices in some Chinese inverters and batteries. Green Power Denmark later said similar unexplained components were found in imported equipment for its energy grid.
The Federal Highway Administration’s advisory cited reports of “undocumented cellular radios” in inverters and batteries, warning they could pose a risk. The US Department of Transportation said the advisory "summarises public and unclassified reporting to ensure agencies are implementing practical mitigation steps."
The Chinese Embassy in Washington responded that it opposed "the distortion and smear of China's achievements in the field of energy infrastructure."
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