China releases new electric vehicle battery safety standards

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology recently issued GB38031-2025 "Safety Requirements for Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles", which will be officially implemented on July 1, 2026. The new standard includes 7 single-cell tests and 17 battery pack or system tests. The revised version has improved the technical requirements. For example, the thermal diffusion test has been changed from "issuing a thermal event warning signal 5 minutes before fire or explosion" to "no fire, no explosion (but warning is still required), and smoke does not cause harm to passengers". In addition, a bottom impact test has been added to evaluate the protection ability of the battery when the bottom is hit, requiring no leakage, shell rupture, fire or explosion, and meeting the insulation resistance requirements. Finally, the newly added post-fast charging cycle safety test requires an external short-circuit test after 300 fast charging cycles, requiring the battery to not catch fire or explode.