Two New Mandatory EV Standards to Take Effect in July 2026, Requiring Physical Power Cutoff and Non-Flammable Batteries

Starting July 1, 2026, two mandatory national standards for the electric vehicle (EV) sector will officially take effect: "Safety Requirements for Electric Vehicles" and "Safety Requirements for Traction Batteries Used in Electric Vehicles." Regarding overall vehicle safety, the new standards mandate the inclusion of a physical "one-touch power cutoff" device. This device must allow direct disconnection of the vehicle’s high-voltage circuit from its energy storage system when the vehicle is stationary and not charging or discharging, thereby enhancing rescue efficiency and safety in traffic accidents. In terms of traction battery safety, the new standards explicitly require that batteries must not catch fire or explode under various test conditions, must retain alarm functionality, and must ensure that any generated smoke does not harm occupants inside the vehicle. New test items include a bottom impact test (simulating road surface impacts) and an external short-circuit test conducted after 300 fast-charging cycles; both tests must meet the requirement of no fire and no explosion. Additionally, the standards refine environmental parameters for battery testing, improve specifications related to insulation resistance, and upgrade the criteria for evaluating crush tests.