New national standards for automotive batteries will come into effect in 2026, mandating that batteries do not catch fire or explode. On April 15, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced via its official WeChat account that the mandatory national standard titled “Safety Requirements for Power Batteries Used in Electric Vehicles” (GB38031-2025) has been approved. This regulation will be applied to new model applications starting July 1, 2026, while existing approved models will need to comply by July 1, 2027.
The updated standards include revisions to thermal diffusion testing, further clarifying the temperature requirements for the batteries under test, as well as the conditions for power cycling, observation time, and vehicle testing conditions. Unlike previous standards, which required a thermal event alarm signal five minutes before a fire or explosion, the new requirements stipulate that batteries must not catch fire or explode (though alarms are still necessary), and that smoke must not harm passengers. Additionally, a new bottom impact test has been introduced to assess the protective capabilities of batteries when subjected to impacts.
The standards also define fast-charging batteries as those that can charge from 20% to 80% within five minutes, requiring external short circuit tests after 300 cycles of fast charging, again mandating that they must not catch fire or explode. Furthermore, the revised version specifies that these standards apply solely to power batteries for electric vehicles, excluding non-propulsion batteries. It also enhances insulation resistance requirements, adding criteria for insulation resistance of AC circuit battery systems, and increases the requirements for compression and vibration tests.
The “Safety Requirements for Power Batteries Used in Electric Vehicles” (GB38031-2025) will set a new benchmark for battery safety in the automotive industry.
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