From July 2026, China will introduce a groundbreaking law. It prohibits fires in electric car batteries, even in the event of thermal runaway, and imposes strict safety requirements.
China will introduce a new law in July 2026 to prevent fires in electric car batteries. In this way, the communist government in Beijing believes it has solved a safety problem
The dictatorship has decided on the new rules. The rules mean that all new electric cars must meet stricter requirements than before. This will apply from the summer of 2026.
This is reported by Carnews China .
A key requirement in the new law concerns thermal runaway. This is an internal reaction in the battery that, in the worst case, means that the battery pack and thus the electric car burst into flames.
According to the new law, a battery with thermal runaway must not be able to ignite at all. It must also not explode.
There are also requirements for the noise that can be generated. The noise must not be harmful to people in the car.
Tightened battery safety requirements in China
The reason for the new rules is, among other things, a desire for increased consumer safety. A specific incident in March, where a Xiaomi SU7 caught fire after a collision, may have played a role. The investigation into that accident is still ongoing.
A representative from battery manufacturer CATL has told a number of media outlets that the new ban helps protect consumers.
– The new standard will reduce the risk of battery fires after collisions in electric vehicles and better protect the lives of consumers.
The new rules include several testing requirements. Batteries must be able to withstand 300 rapid charging cycles. Even if they are then short-circuited, they must not catch fire or explode.
Crash tests specifically targeting the underside of the battery are also being introduced. The test is intended to show how well the battery can withstand impacts from below.
The previous Chinese standard was less stringent, requiring only a five-minute warning signal for a potential fire.
The future of fireproof batteries
The new law goes much further. China becomes the first country in the world to completely ban battery fires by law.
The industry generally welcomes the stricter requirements, but they acknowledge that it requires major changes.
Adaptation can be expensive, especially for small and medium-sized manufacturers. They will have to invest in new technology and testing procedures.
In the long term, the law is expected to have positive effects. Fewer accidents, cheaper car insurance and lower maintenance costs are some of the expectations.
CATL, one of the world's largest manufacturers of electric car batteries, is coming forward. The company says it has had technology since 2020 that can stop the spread of fire internally in the battery.
However, CATL emphasizes that meeting the new requirements requires close collaboration. Car manufacturers and battery manufacturers must work together on integration and design.
Perhaps the most notable test in the new standard is the last one. A battery must remain completely safe, even in situations where it is close to breaking down.
Electric car technology and battery safety are areas in constant development. You can read more about the latest electric cars – as well as technological advances and setbacks – here at Boosted.dk. But whether it will be more expensive to buy an electric car after the new ban comes into effect, history does not say.
