China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has officially announced stricter safety standards for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, set to take effect on July 1, 2026. This groundbreaking measure aims to eliminate the risk of fires and explosions in EV batteries, becoming the first to explicitly require that batteries prevent fires and explosions even after internal thermal runaway.
The new regulations, titled Safety Requirements for EV Power Batteries, give manufacturers a grace period of over a year to prepare for compliance with these enhanced standards.
The updated requirements significantly raise the bar for battery safety. While previous standards only mandated a warning system to alert drivers at least five minutes before a battery anomaly, the new regulations demand that battery packs resist ignition or explosion during thermal runaway. Furthermore, they stipulate that smoke must not infiltrate the vehicle’s interior, ensuring passenger safety.
To meet these stringent criteria, manufacturers must now conduct a series of high-intensity tests. These include underbody impact tests, short-circuit tests after 300 fast charges, and thermal propagation prevention tests. These changes respond to evolving technologies, such as the cell-to-body structure that integrates batteries directly into the vehicle chassis.
Major players in the battery industry, like Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), claim they already possess the technology to meet these new standards. However, smaller battery manufacturers may face significant challenges in research and development in complying with the regulations.
This move by China is seen as a proactive step to address EV fire concerns and establish a leadership position in global battery safety standards. Similar regulatory discussions will likely follow in other major markets, including Europe and the U.S.
