The aim of the ELISA research project is to develop a secure functional architecture that is integrated into various IT backends for the secure use of backend services. This functional architecture is to be developed on the basis of a trustworthy vehicle network using a zero-trust approach.

The digital key material required for this is managed by a key management system integrated in the vehicle on the basis of a Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM) in accordance with the standard (ISO/IEC 11889). The vehicle's secure TPM key management system is the starting point for trustworthy applications such as charging electric vehicles in accordance with IEC/ISO 15118-20, car sharing and car access, autonomous driving and fleet management.

The first two applications in particular will be analysed in detail as part of ELISA and implemented in the form of concrete solutions. In order to protect such an application, a secure boot process is required for the hardware components involved, which guarantees their authenticity and integrity.

Fraunhofer SIT can look back on a large number of successfully completed research and industrial projects on both automotive and TPM. The EVITA projects and the management of the open source development of the TPM Software Stack (TSS) are particularly worthy of mention here.

Most recently, for example, Fraunhofer SIT added TPM functionalities to ISO 15118-20, a standard for charging electric vehicles, in the Delta project (German). In ELISA, Fraunhofer SIT will contribute its many years of expertise in the realisation of these developments in cars and the integration of many applications with TPM functionalities.

Project partners

• Infineon Technologies AG
• Cariad SE
• Hubject
• CarTelSol
• Fraunhofer SIT
• Deggendorf Institute of Technology
• Digital Business University of Applied Sciences (DBU)

The project runs from 01.07.2023 to 30.06.2026 and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection.