Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), the world’s largest battery manufacturer, has announced that it is the first company to comply with China’s new “No Fire, No Explosion” national safety standard for batteries. The regulation, officially designated as GB 38031-2025, is set to take effect on July 1, 2026. This standard requires that batteries prevent fires and explosions during thermal runaway events, significantly enhancing safety measures compared to previous regulations that only mandated warning signals before such incidents.
The GB 38031-2025 standard, released on March 28, 2025, introduces stringent testing protocols for battery manufacturers. A critical component of the new standard is the thermal diffusion test, which ensures that batteries can withstand thermal runaway without igniting or exploding. Additionally, any smoke emitted from a battery under these conditions must not endanger vehicle occupants. To meet these requirements, manufacturers must also undergo bottom impact testing to evaluate battery protection capabilities and demonstrate that batteries can endure 300 fast-charging cycles without leading to fires or explosions during subsequent short-circuit tests.
On April 29, CATL confirmed its compliance with two of the GB 38031-2025 safety tests, encompassing both battery cells and battery packs. The Qilin battery, introduced in June 2022, was the model submitted for evaluation. This battery represents CATL’s third generation of cell-to-pack (CTP) technology, featuring a volume utilization efficiency of 72% and an energy density of up to 255 Wh/kg. The Qilin battery is designed with a stable load-bearing structure and enhanced protection against thermal runaway, demonstrating CATL’s commitment to advancing battery safety.
The certification was granted by the China Automotive Technology & Research Center (CATARC), a respected organization responsible for product testing and safety assessments in China. Representatives from both the Energy System Department of CATARC and CATL’s Test and Verification Center were present at the certification ceremony.
CATL has pledged to continue improving the safety of its power batteries through advancements in heat diffusion, bottom protection, and fast-charging safety technologies. Achieving compliance with the new safety standard more than a year before its implementation underscores CATL’s leadership in developing safer battery technologies.
As of early 2025, CATL batteries are installed in over 18 million vehicles globally, with manufacturers such as Aito, Zeekr, Li Auto, Xiaomi, Neta, Avatr, and Lotus incorporating the Qilin battery into their electric vehicle models.
Source: CarNewsChina
