With the popularization of new energy vehicles, battery safety has become the focus of industry attention. From the early passive protection of "5-minute escape" to the current active safety of "no fire, no explosion," battery safety technology has undergone revolutionary breakthroughs, providing a solid guarantee for the sustainable development of new energy vehicles.
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TogglePolicy-Driven: From "Escape Time" to "Zero Tolerance" Mandatory Standards
Starting July 1, 2026, China will implement the new version of "Safety Requirements for Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles" (GB38031-2025), which is known as the "strictest battery safety order in history" by the industry. The core change of the new national standard is to establish "no fire, no explosion" as a mandatory requirement, replacing the previous "5-minute escape time" buffer clause.
The new national standard adds bottom collision tests, safety tests after fast charging cycles, and other items, requiring the battery to remain stable for at least 2 hours under extreme conditions, with monitoring point temperatures not exceeding 60°C, and smoke not entering the passenger compartment.
Technological Breakthroughs: Multi-Layered Protection System Builds Safety Barrier
To achieve the goal of "no fire, no explosion," companies have established active defense systems through material innovation, structural optimization, and thermal management upgrades.
1. Material Innovation: Intrinsic Safety Improvement
- BYD Blade Battery uses lithium iron phosphate material, with its thermal runaway trigger temperature over 100°C higher than ternary lithium batteries
- After nail penetration test, surface temperature is only 60°C, significantly reducing fire risk
- CATL has improved the thermal stability of batteries by optimizing positive and negative electrode materials
- 2025 New Silicon-Carbon Composite Anode increases the thermal runaway initiation temperature to 210°C
2. Structural Optimization: Physical Protection Upgrade
- CATL CTP3.0 Technology uses bionic honeycomb structure to slow down heat diffusion speed
- BYD fills high-moisture-absorbing phase change materials between cells to absorb heat and prevent spread
- GAC Aion "Magazine Battery" achieves non-ignition in nail penetration tests through multi-layer protection design
- 2025 Latest Modular Design improves battery pack impact resistance by 50%
3. Thermal Management Upgrade: Intelligent Monitoring and Early Warning
- Intelligent BMS system monitors battery status in real-time, preventing overcharge, over-discharge, and temperature abnormalities
- Yuanyuan New Energy Commercial Vehicle Xuanwu Battery achieves 3000 cycle life while maintaining 2C continuous fast charging capability through negative electrode material modification
- 2025 AI Early Warning System can predict thermal runaway risk 30 minutes in advance with an accuracy rate of 95%
Scenario-Based Verification: Extreme Tests Ensure Safety in All Areas
The new national standard strengthens scenario-based safety tests, requiring batteries to remain stable under complex working conditions.
Bottom Collision Test
- Simulates vehicle bottom scraping or flying stone impact scenarios
- Requires battery pack to not leak, catch fire, or explode after being impacted by a 30mm steel ball with 150 joules of energy
- Directly addresses the characteristic of new energy vehicle battery packs being placed under the chassis, improving vehicle safety on complex roads
Fast Charging Cycle Safety Test
- Requires batteries to still pass external short-circuit tests after completing 300 fast charging cycles, ensuring no fire or explosion
- Directly addresses industry pain points such as electrolyte decomposition and lithium dendrite growth caused by high-frequency fast charging
- Promotes the development of fast charging technology in a safer direction
Cost and Market: Industry Restructuring Under Safety Upgrades
The cost of battery systems complying with the new regulations is expected to increase by 15%-20%, putting pressure on low-end models to increase prices or exit the market. However, companies generally stated that they will not sacrifice safety for cost advantages, and industry concentration is accelerating.
The new national standard has also driven the expansion of the testing and certification market. The cost of a single laboratory bottom detection has exceeded 2 million yuan, and third-party testing institutions are facing a trillion-level market space.
Future Outlook: Evolution from Safety Standards to Technology Ecosystem
The breakthrough in battery safety technology is not only reflected in standard upgrades but also promotes the evolution of the technology ecosystem.
New Technologies Accelerate Commercialization
- All-Solid-State Battery: CATL plans to showcase all-solid-state battery samples in 2027
- BYD Cold Welding Technology ensures reliable connection between solid electrolyte and electrode
- Sodium-Ion Battery is first applied on a large scale in the energy storage field
Intelligent and Industry Chain Collaboration Becomes a Trend
- AI technology penetrates battery R&D, manufacturing, and full lifecycle management
- Industry chain collaborative innovation accelerates technology iteration
- 2025 battery intelligent manufacturing level increases by 40%
International Standard Alignment
- CATL certified battery packs have met EU EVS-GTR regulatory requirements
- Clears technical obstacles for domestic new energy vehicles going overseas
- 2025 Chinese battery standard internationalization achieves breakthrough progress
2025 Battery Safety Technology Commercial Application
Success Case Display
- CATL Kirin Battery: Has passed all tests of the new national standard and is mass-produced and installed in vehicles
- BYD Blade Battery: Achieved zero accident record for million-level vehicle installations
- Guoxuan High-Tech JTM Technology: Obvious cost advantage, passed new national standard certification
Industry Impact Analysis
- Safety technology improvement drives brand value growth by 25%
- Consumer purchase intention increases by 35%
- Insurance costs decrease by 18%
From "5-minute escape" to "no fire, no explosion," the breakthrough in battery safety technology is not only innovation at the technical level but also a restructuring of the industrial ecosystem. Driven by multiple factors such as policy, technology, and market, new energy vehicles will move towards a higher quality development stage, providing consumers with safer and more reliable travel options.
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