China Set To Enforce Tougher EV Battery Safety Standards From July 2026

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has announced new national safety rules for electric vehicle (EV) batteries. These rules will take effect on July 1, 2026.

The new regulation, called GB38031-2025: Safety Requirements for Power Batteries of Electric Vehicles, is the first in the world to require EV batteries to prevent fire or explosion — even after a thermal runaway event.

One of the biggest changes is the new thermal diffusion test. Under the old rules, a battery only had to send a warning signal five minutes before a fire or explosion. The new rules go much further: the battery must not catch fire or explode at all, even if thermal runaway has already started.

The rules also say that any smoke from the battery must not be harmful to the people inside the vehicle.

Other new tests have also been added. These include:

• Bottom impact testing — to check how well the battery can handle crashes from underneath.
• Fast-charging cycle safety testing — to make sure batteries can safely handle at least 300 fast-charging cycles and still pass short-circuit safety tests afterward.

Experts believe these stricter tests will improve safety for drivers and passengers. The new rules may also push smaller battery makers out of the market, as not all companies will be able to afford the research and development needed to meet the higher standards.

Major manufacturers like CATL say they are already ready for the new rules. CATL claims its No Thermal Propagation (NP) technology has been in production since 2020, and meets the new safety requirements.

A CATL spokesperson said the rules will help reduce the risk of fires after car accidents, but will require close teamwork between carmakers and battery suppliers.

The timing of this announcement comes shortly after a well-known accident involving a Xiaomi SU7 electric car, which caught fire after a crash in March. The cause of that incident is still under investigation.

Experts agree the new standards will ease public fears about EV battery fires. While the rules may make life harder for smaller companies in the short term, they are expected to make EVs safer, reduce insurance costs, and create more value for the industry over time.

Source: CarNewsChina