A smart contract and IPFS-based framework for secure electric vehicles synchronization at charging station

Abstract

The growth of electric vehicles (EVs) at a significant pace is a promising solution for reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional vehicles. Nevertheless, optimal and efficient EV charging management is a serious concern that needs to be solved for the benefit of both charging stations (CSs) and EVs. In this regard, we proposed a smart contract and Interplanetary File System (IPFS)-based secure EV synchronization framework at the CS utilizing a 5G wireless network. Blockchain technology strengthens the security of the EV charging at the CS in a synchronized and coordinated manner. The IPFS and 5G wireless network ensure efficient and reliable EVs synchronization to charge vehicles from the available number of charging points (CPs) at a CS. Furthermore, we have coordinated and synchronized the EV charging, considering various scenarios based on the waiting queue time, energy demand, and EVs (they can arrive in an emergency). We have shown the implementation interface of the proposed model based on the execution of a smart contract using the Remix Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Moreover, we have performed the security analysis of the smart contract using Echidna fuzzing-based tool to ensure the secure EVs allocation to the corresponding CS. Finally, the performance analysis of the IPFS and smart-based proposed model is evaluated and simulated considering various metrics such as transaction storage cost analysis, computational and communication overhead analysis, utilized cost based on the smart contract functions, and the number of EVs.