New Mandatory EV Safety Standards Take Effect July 1: Battery Thermal Runaway Must Not Cause Fire for 2 Hours

Starting July 1, 2026, two mandatory national standards—GB18384-2025 "Electric Vehicle Safety Requirements" and GB38031-2025 "Power Battery Safety Requirements for Electric Vehicles"—will take effect. The new rules elevate battery safety from "5-minute warning before fire" to "no fire or explosion for 2 hours after thermal runaway," adding bottom-impact and fast-charge-cycle safety tests. Physical emergency disconnect switches become mandatory. Industry experts believe the regulations will fundamentally reshape competition, accelerating market consolidation and putting intense survival pressure on small battery manufacturers and low-end automakers.