Good news for new energy vehicle owners: a new national standard for electric vehicle batteries has been announced, requiring that they do not catch fire or explode. This new standard, titled “Safety Requirements for Power Storage Batteries for Electric Vehicles” (GB38031-2025), was organized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and has been approved by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Standardization Administration. It will take effect on July 1, 2026.
The updated standard includes seven individual tests and seventeen tests for battery packs or systems. Compared to the 2020 version, the new requirements have increased the technical standards and introduced new testing items such as bottom impact tests, safety tests after fast charging cycles, and thermal diffusion tests.
One of the main revisions is related to the thermal diffusion test. This test assesses the safety features of batteries in the event of internal short circuits leading to thermal runaway. The revised requirement now states that the battery must not catch fire or explode (although an alarm must still be triggered), and the emitted gases must not harm the occupants. Additionally, the standard introduces a bottom impact test that evaluates the battery’s protective capabilities against impacts. It stipulates that there should be no leakage, shell rupture, fire, or explosion, and that insulation resistance requirements must be met.
Regarding fast charging, the new standard mandates a safety test after 300 fast charging cycles, where the battery must also not catch fire or explode during external short circuit testing.
For new models applying for type approval, these standards will be implemented starting on July 1, 2026, while existing models approved prior to this date will need to comply by July 1, 2027. This provides a one-year transition period for already approved models, but they must complete any necessary modifications or exit the market by 2027.
Industry experts believe that the new safety requirements will publicly enhance battery safety, alleviating public concerns regarding the risk of spontaneous combustion in new energy vehicles. However, the new regulations may increase research and development costs for small and medium-sized enterprises and could lead to a reshuffling in the industry, promoting concentration and standardization within the market.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/new-national-standards-for-electric-vehicle-batteries-announced-ensuring-no-fires-or-explosions-by-2026/
