As the world's largest electric vehicle market, China sets the pace for EV safety standards. GB 38031 (Safety Requirements for Power Storage Systems of Electric Vehicles) is the cornerstone of China's EV battery safety framework.
It has become one of the most referenced standards globally, influencing regulations from Europe to the United States.
What GB 38031 Covers
GB 38031 specifies safety requirements for rechargeable energy storage systems (RESS) used in electric vehicles. It applies to lithium-ion battery systems, which power the vast majority of EVs sold today.
Key areas include:
- Thermal management — Requirements for preventing and managing thermal runaway
- Mechanical integrity — Vibration, shock, and crush resistance
- Electrical safety — Insulation, short circuit protection, overcharge/overdischarge protection
- Environmental testing — Immersion, thermal cycling, salt spray resistance
- Thermal runaway propagation — The battery must provide at least 5 minutes of warning before thermal event propagation
Comparison with International Standards
GB 38031 is often compared with other major EV battery safety standards:
- UN R100 — The UN regulation for EV safety, adopted by many countries
- SAE J2464 — US-based abuse testing standard for EV batteries
- IEC 62660 series — International standards for lithium-ion cells
GB 38031 is generally considered more stringent than UN R100 in several areas, particularly thermal runaway propagation testing. The 5-minute warning requirement has become a de facto global benchmark.
2025 Revision
The 2025 revision of GB 38031 introduced several notable changes:
- Stricter thermal runaway propagation requirements
- New testing procedures for extreme temperature conditions
- Updated requirements for battery management systems (BMS)
- Enhanced requirements for high-voltage safety interlocks
Global Influence
China's EV battery standards increasingly influence global regulations. The UNECE WP.29 working group has referenced GB 38031 requirements in developing updated UN regulations.
European and US regulators have also studied China's approach when developing their own EV safety frameworks.
Compliance Requirements
For EV manufacturers and battery suppliers targeting the Chinese market:
- Battery systems must be tested and certified to GB 38031 by a CCC-accredited laboratory
- China Compulsory Certification (CCC) is required for all EVs sold in China
- Testing must be conducted on production-representative samples
- Certification must be renewed when significant design changes are made