The thermal runaway testing standard for power batteries has been upgraded, with a 10-minute protection requirement now becoming the new benchmark.
2025-10-25
The GB 38031—2025 “Safety Requirements for Power Storage Batteries Used in Electric Vehicles,” released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in April 2025, has significantly upgraded the thermal propagation testing standards for power batteries. Under the new standard, the requirement for protective time after thermal runaway has been raised from “providing an alarm signal within 5 minutes before ignition or explosion” to “remaining non-flammable and non-explosive throughout a 2-hour observation period,” and the emission of smoke and gases must not pose any harm to occupants. This adjustment means that the battery system must maintain structural integrity and functional safety for at least 10 minutes (with the actual requirement extended to 2 hours) after thermal runaway of a single cell, thereby providing occupants with a longer window of time for emergency response.
In terms of test scenarios, the new standard has expanded from triggering thermal runaway by heating individual cells to simulating module-level failures, covering complex conditions such as nail penetration, overcharging, and external fire exposure. Additionally, a bottom-impact test has been introduced, requiring that after an impact, the battery pack exhibits no leakage, shell rupture, or fire or explosion. Regarding technical specifications, requirements for system protection duration following thermal runaway, performance of thermal insulation materials, and directional venting through pressure-relief channels have all been significantly enhanced. For example, adjacent modules must be equipped with aerogel or ceramic-based fire-retardant layers, and the battery pack’s outer casing must be made of UL94 V-0 grade flame-retardant material.
This upgrade is driving the industry toward a transition to higher-safety technologies. Companies such as CATL, with their Kirin battery, have already met the new regulatory requirements through innovative solutions like “atomic-level flame retardants” and “NP thermal-runaway-free technology.” The new standards will be officially implemented in July 2026, helping to further enhance the safety level of China’s power batteries.
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