In the late autumn of 2025, news about "new national standards for new energy vehicle batteries to be implemented next year" exploded in the automotive community—the "Safety Requirements for Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles" (GB38031-2025) draft released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has been called the "strictest battery safety regulation in history" by the industry. From the 2020 version to the 2025 version, this five-year standard upgrade is not just an adjustment of technical parameters, but a declaration of transformation for China's new energy vehicle industry from "scale expansion" to "safety cultivation."
Today, let's deconstruct the core changes in the new national standard and discuss its "earthquake-level" impact on automakers, consumers, and the entire industry.
I. Comparison of Old and New Standards: From "Basic Protection" to "Comprehensive Defense"
The core of the 2020 GB38031 was to "maintain the thermal runaway bottom line"—requiring that battery packs do not catch fire or explode within 5 minutes after a single cell thermal runaway, allowing sufficient time for passenger escape. The 2025 new national standard, however, is like equipping batteries with "all-round airbags," building a "full lifecycle safety protection network" from cells and modules to entire vehicles, and from production and use to recycling.
1. Thermal Runaway Protection: From "No Fire in 5 Minutes" to "Full-Scenario Blocking"
The old standard only required that "after a single cell thermal runaway, the battery pack does not catch fire or explode." But in reality, scenarios like collisions, overcharging, and low-temperature short circuits may cause chain reactions. The new standard directly "raises the stakes":
- Expanded Trigger Conditions: Added 8 types of extreme scenario tests including "overcharging to 120% SOC," "-40°C low-temperature short circuit," and "short circuit after salt spray corrosion," requiring that thermal runaway must still be controlled within a single module with no open flame overflow within 5 minutes under these conditions.
- Extended Escape Time: For "multiple cell continuous runaway" scenarios (e.g., collision causing simultaneous failure of 3+ cells), the new standard extends the battery pack's overall non-fire time from 5 minutes to 15 minutes—meaning passengers can evacuate calmly even in worst-case scenarios.
As a battery lab director at an automaker admitted: "Previously we only needed to 'protect against one cell,' now we have to 'suppress a series of cells'—the technical difficulty has tripled."
2. Mechanical Safety: "Triple Pressure" on Vibration, Collision, and Crush
New energy vehicles are often criticized for being "afraid of bumps" and "afraid of scraping the underside." The new standard directly turns these pain points into test items:
- Vibration Test: The old standard only simulated "paved road" vibrations (5-500Hz), while the new standard adds "unpaved road" high-frequency vibrations (5-2000Hz), requiring battery packs to have no structural deformation or cell displacement after 24 hours of continuous vibration, with insulation resistance not less than 100Ω/V (old standard 50Ω/V).
- Collision Protection: In addition to front/side collisions, added "undercarriage scrape test"—simulating a 200kN impact force (equivalent to 20-ton weight crushing) on the battery pack bottom when the vehicle scrapes its underside, requiring no leakage, no fire, and automatic high-voltage system power cut-off.
- Crush Test: Crush deformation increased from 30% in the old standard to 50% (equivalent to being laterally crushed by an SUV), still requiring no fire or explosion.
These tests directly address the long-standing problem of new energy vehicles having "fragile chassis." No wonder engineers say: "Battery packs under the new standard have toughness comparable to tank chassis."
3. Charging Safety: From "Interface Standards" to "Full-Chain Management"
The old standard had relatively general specifications for charging safety, while the new standard details "every wire, every interface":
- Charging Interface Protection: Mandatory requirement for charging guns to have "anti-misinsertion" function (different vehicle models have different interface shapes), and added "temperature sensors"—automatically cutting power when charging port temperature exceeds 80°C.
- Charging Process Monitoring: BMS (Battery Management System) must monitor charging current, voltage, and temperature in real-time. If abnormalities are detected (e.g., current fluctuation exceeding 20%), alarm within 3 seconds and limit power to avoid overcharging-induced thermal runaway.
- Ultra-Fast Charging Compatibility: Added mandatory certification for "ultra-fast charging station and vehicle BMS communication protocol" targeting 800V high-voltage ultra-fast charging, ensuring no battery overheating or lithium plating during fast charging.
This means that when using public charging stations in the future, you'll have not only "physical protection" but also "digital bodyguards" monitoring battery status.
II. New Requirements: These "Hard Indicators" Automakers Must Meet
In addition to the core upgrades above, the new standard adds three major "mandatory questions":
1. Battery Passport: Full Lifecycle Traceability
Each battery must carry a "digital ID" (blockchain-based battery passport) recording data from raw material mining, manufacturing, to retirement and recycling. Consumers can scan codes to view battery health, maintenance records, carbon footprint, etc.; automakers can use data tracing to quickly locate battery failure sources.
2. "Re-employment" Threshold for Retired Batteries
Regarding battery recycling, the new standard specifies: Retired batteries with capacity retention rate ≥70% after testing can be used in low-speed vehicles, energy storage, etc.; if <70%, they must enter the dismantling and recycling process. Meanwhile, recycling companies must have "single cell-level dismantling capability" to avoid heavy metal pollution.
3. Data Security: "Local Storage Priority" for Battery Information
To prevent data leaks, the new standard requires: Over 90% of battery data collected by onboard BMS (such as voltage, temperature, location) must be stored in the vehicle or local servers, with only necessary information uploadable to the cloud. Automakers bear legal liability if data leaks cause user losses.
III. Industry Impact: Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain
The implementation of the new standard will bring "earthquake-level" changes to the new energy vehicle industry:
| Stakeholder | Short-Term Impact | Long-Term Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Automakers | R&D investment surges 5-8% per vehicle | Technology leaders gain competitive advantage |
| Consumers | Potential price increases for compliant vehicles | 60%+ reduction in fire risk, battery passport transparency |
| Supply Chain | Small battery manufacturers may be eliminated | Industry-wide technology upgrade and consolidation |
It's estimated that meeting the new standard requirements will increase single-vehicle battery system costs by 5%-8% (mainly for thermal management system upgrades, sensor additions, and digital passport development). But in the long run, technologically leading automakers will use this to widen the gap—for example, BYD's "Blade Battery + CTB Technology" and CATL's "Qilin Battery + AI BMS" have already adapted to the new standard in advance, likely gaining competitive advantages.
Under the new standard, electric vehicle fire probability is expected to decrease by over 60%, and cases of batteries not catching fire after collisions will become the norm. More importantly, the "battery passport" lets consumers buy transparently and use confidently—no more anxiety about "second-hand battery health."
Conclusion: Safety is the "Last Mile" for New Energy Vehicles
From 2020 to 2025, the upgrade history of GB38031 is essentially the growth history of China's new energy vehicles "from quantity to quality." The new standard is not a "tight curse" but a "protective charm"—it uses the strictest standards to protect every consumer's travel safety; it uses the most detailed requirements to push the industry from "competing on parameters" to "competing on technology."
For automakers, compliance is just the starting point; for consumers, the new standard means "driving an electric vehicle with one less worry." In 2026, when the first batch of vehicles equipped with new standard batteries hit the road, we will witness the arrival of a safer, more reliable new energy vehicle era. (This article is based on the 2025 MIIT GB38031-2025 draft and industry expert interpretations.)
Frequently Asked Questions
The GB38031-2025 standard is expected to officially take effect in 2026. The draft was released for public comment in late 2025, and after incorporating feedback from industry stakeholders, the final version will be implemented with a transition period for automakers to adapt their production processes and technologies.
Initially, compliant vehicles may see price increases of 5-8% due to enhanced safety features like improved thermal management systems, additional sensors, and battery passport technology. However, as these technologies mature and achieve economies of scale, prices are expected to stabilize. The long-term safety benefits are considered to outweigh the initial cost increases.
A battery passport is a digital record using blockchain technology that tracks a battery's entire lifecycle—from raw material sourcing through manufacturing, usage, and eventual recycling. For consumers, this provides transparent information about battery health, maintenance history, and carbon footprint, making it easier to assess used EV value and ensure proper battery disposal.
Existing vehicles manufactured before the standard's implementation will not be required to retrofit to meet the new requirements. However, the standard may influence aftermarket services, battery replacement options, and resale values. The industry is expected to develop upgrade pathways for critical safety components where feasible, particularly for commercial fleets where safety standards are paramount.