China has introduced new regulations mandating that electric vehicle batteries must not catch fire or explode. The Chinese government has issued what it describes as the “strictest battery safety regulations to date,” enhancing the mandatory national standards for electric vehicle batteries to mitigate the risks of fires and explosions in this rapidly growing industry.
On Monday, April 14, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology published the mandatory national standard titled <b>“Safety Requirements for Power Batteries Used in Electric Vehicles.”</b> This new standard will take effect on July 1, 2026. It specifies detailed requirements regarding the battery temperature during testing, the conditions for power cycling, observation times, and vehicle testing conditions. The technical requirements have shifted from merely providing alarms for thermal events occurring within five minutes prior to a fire or explosion to ensuring that batteries do not ignite or explode (still requiring alarms), and that smoke does not harm occupants.
Additionally, the new standard introduces testing requirements related to the impact of collisions and the resilience of batteries during rapid charging, imposing stricter criteria. Companies must ensure that electric vehicle batteries can withstand tests without catching fire or exploding within specified time frames, aiming to reduce the safety risks associated with thermal runaway for drivers, passengers, and surrounding property. Thermal runaway is the most common cause of battery-related fires.
According to <b>Red Star News</b>, this standard is the first to require that batteries not ignite or explode after experiencing thermal runaway due to internal short circuits, marking it as "the strictest battery safety regulation ever."
However, the introduction of these regulations does not imply that future incidents of electric vehicles catching fire or exploding can be completely ruled out. <b>Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL)</b>, the world's largest manufacturer of electric vehicle batteries, stated that preventing fires and explosions after vehicle collisions will require collaboration between automakers and battery manufacturers.
This year, several incidents of electric vehicles catching fire during collisions have garnered significant public attention. For instance, a Xiaomi SU7 electric vehicle was involved in a serious accident last month on a highway in Anhui, colliding with a concrete barrier and subsequently bursting into flames, resulting in the deaths of all three occupants. Despite the frequent circulation of unverified videos of electric vehicle fires on Chinese social media, a report by <b>CCTV</b> last June indicated that the likelihood of fires in electric vehicles is lower than that in gasoline-powered cars.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/china-implements-strict-new-regulations-for-electric-vehicle-battery-safety-to-prevent-fires-and-explosions/
