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China Releases Most Stringent Battery Safety Standards The 2025 revision (GB 38031-2025) updates and refines the 2020 standard (GB 38031-2020) to reflect technological advancements and a stronger emphasis on real-world abuse scenarios (e.g., fast charging, underbody impacts) and occupant protection during thermal events.
Cell level
Pack level
Test item
GB38031-2020
GB38031-2025
Key differences
Safety after fast charge cycle
Not required
300 cycles from 20% to 80% SOC in ≤15 min, followed by short circuit test
New requirement to evaluate safety under rapid charging stress
Overcurrent protection Overtemperature protection External short circuit protection Overcharge protection Overdischarge protection
Insulation ≥100 Ω/V
Insulation ≥100 Ω/V (AC: ≥500 Ω/V)
Explicit insulation requirement for AC circuits added
Thermal Propagation
Alarm signal required before occupant danger (within 5 min of thermal runaway)
Alarm within 5 min of thermal runaway + smoke control documentation for occupant safety (pre- and post-alarm)
Stricter occupant safety requirement; explicit smoke control verification
Bottom impact test
Not required
10kg hemispherical impactor (30mm diameter steel ball) at 150J ±3J on 3 risk points (front/mid/rear)
New test to simulate underbody collisions
Source: Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China communication to understand GB38031-2025 in one picture
Extracted from the PDF; charts and images may read imperfectly.
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