China has finalized 294 national standards across 13 strategic sectors, formally upgrading electric-vehicle power-battery safety requirements to mandatory status for the first time. Announced on December 26 by the State Administration for Market Regulation and reported by CCTV, these standards are part of an action plan jointly released by seven government departments. They have been approved, published, and are scheduled to take effect in stages.
The standards rollout supports the Action Plan to Promote Equipment Renewal and Consumer Goods Trade-In Through Standards, which aims to drive industrial upgrading and spur consumption through regulatory standardization.
The newly released guidelines concentrate on three main areas:
- Energy efficiency and emissions: Authorities introduced or revised 113 national standards targeting key industries such as coal-fired power generation, steel, and building materials. Updated mandatory energy consumption limits are designed to phase out outdated production capacity, while tighter efficiency requirements apply to common industrial equipment, including boilers, electric motors, and transformers.
- Product quality and safety: A set of 115 standards addresses sectors closely aligned with consumer demand—automobiles, home appliances, home furnishings, and emerging consumer products. Crucially, electric-vehicle power-battery safety standards were revised to require that batteries neither catch fire nor explode. This marks the first time such criteria have been explicitly defined as mandatory technical requirements at the national level.
- Recycling and circular utilization: In addition to safety and efficiency measures, authorities approved 66 standards covering the recycling, dismantling, and regeneration of used products. These guidelines encompass home appliances, furniture, electronic devices, photovoltaic and wind power equipment, and power batteries, reinforcing China’s commitment to a circular economy.
Liu Hongsheng, director of the Standards Technology Department at the State Administration for Market Regulation, described the EV battery safety standards as a breakthrough in safety regulation. He noted that the new mandate will push automakers to optimize battery structures and enhance thermal management systems, improving the overall safety of new energy vehicles.
Under the revised national standard GB 38031-2025, new type approvals must comply with these requirements beginning July 1, 2026. Existing vehicle approvals will follow differentiated transition arrangements, generally extending until July 1, 2027.
Source: CarNewsChina
