New national rules come into force in July and prohibit batteries from catching fire or exploding, even after thermal failures
China will adopt, as of July 1, 2026, two new mandatory national standards to strengthen the safety of electric vehicles and their batteries. The rules follow the expansion of the new energy vehicle (NEV) market and seek to increase the reliability of the technology.
Among the main changes is the requirement for a physical emergency shutdown system triggered by a single touch. The move replaces software-dependent methods and will allow drivers and rescue workers to disrupt the vehicle’s high-voltage circuit without relying solely on electronic commands.
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In addition to maintaining the requirement for warning systems for thermal failures, the regulation determines that batteries cannot present fires or explosions in these situations – and that the smoke eventually released cannot cause harm to occupants. Manufacturers must also prove resistance to impacts on the underside of the vehicle and ensure the safety of the set even after 300 fast charging cycles.
In May alone, China produced 1.554 million NEVs and sold 1.496 million, according to the country’s manufacturers association. By the end of 2025, the national fleet totaled 43.97 million units.
Experts assess that the standards should accelerate the consolidation of the industry, favoring manufacturers with more advanced technologies. For Han Guangshuai, from Tongji University, the rules also tend to improve the valuation of used cars and reduce the concerns of the insurance sector.
Companies such as CATL and BYD already claim that their batteries meet the new requirements. According to Wu Kai, chief scientist at CATL, the full application of the rules could reduce the spontaneous combustion rate of Chinese electric vehicles to a level about ten times lower than that of combustion models.
Although the requirements may increase the production costs of batteries, the impact on final prices will depend on the strategies of each automaker. At the same time, the Chinese government continues to expand regulation, with standards aimed at the early detection of fires in electric vehicles.
