Chinese Electric Vehicles Will Be Tested in a New and Stricter Way

Updated battery requirements for electric cars will come into force in China from July 2026. The authorities aim to enhance the safety of the rapidly growing NEV (new energy vehicles) market by reducing the likelihood of fires and other incidents.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has introduced new technical standards for the batteries of electric and hybrid vehicles. These vehicles already account for more than half of new vehicle sales in the country.

Under the new rules, manufacturers will have to conduct stricter tests confirming that their batteries do not ignite or explode within a given time. This should minimize risks for drivers, passengers, and bystanders related to the overheating of power cells — the main cause of fires in electric vehicles.

The standards, agreed by regulators in March but only published now, will replace the current 2020 norms. They also include additional tests, such as checking the effects of crashes and resistance to frequent fast charging.

Notably, sales of NEVs (pure electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids) in China have consistently outpaced the sales of ICE vehicles for more than a year.

This result has significantly surpassed Beijing's initial plans: while authorities anticipated in 2015 that the share of NEVs would reach 20% by 2025, by 2020, the target was revised to 50% by 2035. Experts attribute this progress to consistent government support for the industry.