New National Standards Enhance Electric Vehicle Battery Safety: Mandatory Implementation of Fast Charging Cycles and Thermal Diffusion Tests Starting in 2026
On April 15, it was announced via the website of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology that the Ministry has organized the formulation of a mandatory national standard titled “Safety Requirements for Power Storage Batteries Used in Electric Vehicles” (GB38031-2025). This standard has recently been approved and will come into effect on July 1, 2026.
The new standard introduces comprehensive upgrades in testing items and technical requirements aimed at significantly enhancing the safety of electric vehicle batteries and promoting high-quality development within the industry.
Compared to the 2020 version of the national standard, the new regulations add several crucial tests for both individual batteries and battery packs/systems:
- Safety Tests After Fast Charging Cycles: The battery must pass an external short circuit test without catching fire or exploding after 300 fast charging cycles. This requirement is significantly more stringent than previous standards and addresses safety challenges posed by the widespread adoption of fast charging technology.
- Upgraded Thermal Diffusion Testing: The original standard’s requirement for a five-minute alarm before fire or explosion has been revised to demand that batteries do not catch fire or explode (while still requiring an alarm). Additionally, it specifies that “smoke must not cause harm to occupants,” greatly enhancing safety redundancy in thermal runaway scenarios.
- Bottom Impact Testing: A new assessment has been introduced to evaluate the battery’s protective capability against bottom impacts, requiring that there be no leakage, shell rupture, fire, or explosion after an impact, and that insulation resistance requirements are met to address collision risks in complex road conditions.
This comprehensive upgrade is expected to set a higher benchmark for battery safety in electric vehicles, thus contributing to the overall advancement of the industry.
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