Chinese NEVs accounted for 47.5% of all new vehicle sales during the first five months of this year. (Photo/Chongqing Daily)
Chongqing - As new energy vehicles (NEVs) become increasingly common in China, the country has introduced three mandatory national safety standards covering power systems, batteries, and vehicle structures, which officially took effect on July 1.
According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, China produced 5.841 million NEVs and sold 5.802 million in the first five months of this year, up 2.5% and 3.5% year on year, respectively. NEVs accounted for 47.5% of all new vehicle sales.
As ownership continues to rise, risks related to battery fires, crash safety, and emergency rescue have become more visible. The new standards not only update technical requirements but also affect consumer decisions and reshape parts of the automotive supply chain.
For battery thermal runaway, the new standard replaces the previous requirement of issuing a warning five minutes before a fire. It now requires the battery system to avoid fire or explosion for at least two hours after thermal runaway occurs in a single battery cell. The battery surface temperature must not exceed 60 degrees Celsius, and no toxic smoke may enter the passenger cabin within five minutes before or after the warning.
This means battery packs must have stronger heat insulation and fire resistance to prevent a single-cell failure from spreading. The requirement gives passengers more time to escape and rescuers more time to respond.
For power cutoff and rescue safety after collisions, the new rules require vehicles to be equipped with a fully mechanical, physical one-button power-off device. Even if the vehicle’s electronic system fails, rescuers can mechanically cut off the high-voltage power supply.
A related door handle rule, set to take effect in 2027, will require vehicles to retain a purely mechanical door-opening function, ensuring doors can still be opened from outside after a complete power loss.
Side-impact standards have also been upgraded. The new rules raise the mass of the moving barrier used in side-impact tests from 950 kilograms to 1,400 kilograms, making the test closer to real NEV collision scenarios. Test dummies have also been upgraded to more sensitive international-standard models to better assess injury risks.
A transition period has been set. New models must comply with the standards from July 1, 2026. Existing models in production must meet the standards by July 1, 2027, or sales will be halted.
For the industry, the new rules will raise the overall safety threshold. In the past, features such as batteries passing nail penetration tests without catching fire were often marketed as selling points for premium models. Under the new standards, such capabilities will become basic industry requirements.
To meet requirements such as “no fire for two hours,” automakers will need to invest more in heat insulation, exhaust systems, underbody protection and crash structures. Manufacturing costs may rise. Companies with weak technology reserves and a heavy reliance on low-price competition will face greater pressure. Industry resources may further shift toward automakers and battery makers with stronger core technologies.
The new test conditions are stricter and closer to real road accidents. They will push automakers to upgrade materials, structures, and vehicle platforms.
For example, the new rules require three consecutive impacts to the bottom of the battery pack with 150 joules of energy, after which the vehicle must not catch fire or explode. This will push companies to improve underbody battery protection and accelerate the shift from converted fuel-vehicle platforms to integrated battery-body structures. To meet the 1,400-kilogram side-impact requirement, automakers will also need to use stronger materials in key vehicle structures.
The implementation of the new national standards will also help improve the global competitiveness of China’s NEV industry. Some countries and regions have imposed trade barriers on Chinese NEVs. Higher safety standards will help Chinese automakers meet overseas crash and safety tests and strengthen product recognition.
In some key safety indicators, China’s NEV standards have already surpassed current international standards, and China has begun to participate in the development of related international regulations.