GB 18384-2025Electric vehicles safety requirements (English PDF)

1 Scope

GB 18384 is the safety standard an electric vehicle has to satisfy before it can be sold in China. It specifies the safety requirements and the corresponding test methods for electric vehicles whose maximum working voltage falls in Class B, covering the voltage classification itself, the requirements grouped under safety, the test procedures that verify them, the rules for judging when two vehicles count as the same type, and the arrangements for applying the standard. A normative annex completes it. Vehicles that remain continuously connected to the grid while driving are outside its scope. The 2025 edition replaces GB 18384-2020 and comes into force on 1 July 2026, which is the date manufacturers and importers have to work back from: type approval evidence prepared against the 2020 text does not carry over by itself. For anyone certifying an electric vehicle, a battery pack integration or an imported model for China, this is the governing document.

This document specifies the safety requirements for electric vehicles and describes the test methods. This document applies to electric vehicles with a maximum working voltage of class B. This document does not apply to road vehicles that are continuously connected to the power grid while in motion.

2 Normative references

The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

GB/T 4094.2, Electric vehicles - Symbols for controls, indicators and tell-tales

GB/T 4208-2017, Degrees of protection provided by enclosure (IP code)

GB 8410, Flammability of automotive interior materials

GB 11551, The protection of the occupants in the event of a frontal collision for motor vehicle

GB/T 12113-2023, Methods of measurement of touch current and protective conductor current

GB 17354, Front and rear protective devices for passenger cars

GB/T 18385-2024, Battery electric vehicles - Power performance - Test method

GB/T 18387, Limits and test method of magnetic and electric field strength from electric vehicles

GB/T 19596, Terminology of electric vehicles

GB/T 19752-2024, Hybrid electric vehicles - Power performance - Test method

GB/T 19836, Instrumentation for electric vehicles

GB 20071, The protection of the occupants in the event of a lateral collision

GB 20072, The requirements of safety in the event of rear-end collision for passenger car

3 Terms and definitions

Terms and definitions determined by GB/T 19596 and the following ones are applicable to this document.

3.1 rechargeable electrical energy storage system; REESS A rechargeable energy storage system that can provide electrical energy.

3.2 high voltage service disconnect A device, equipped with a built-in voltage class B part, that is used to disconnect high- voltage circuits when inspecting or repairing voltage class B components.

3.3 low voltage service disconnect A device, not equipped with a built-in voltage class B part, that is used to disconnect high-voltage circuits when inspecting or repairing voltage class B components.

3.4 conductive connection Electrical connection made using conductors.

3.5 high voltage connector A component consisting of one or more sets of conductor terminals and insulating sheaths that provides electrical connection and disconnection functions between high- voltage cables in electric vehicles and between high-voltage cables and high-voltage components. [Source: GB/T 37133-2025, 3.2]

3.6 direct driving The driver controls the vehicle through the steering wheel, brake pedal, gear shifting mechanism, accelerator pedal, etc.

3.7 cut off the power of propulsion system The high-voltage circuit of the entire vehicle is disconnected, at least the high-voltage circuit between the drive system and the rechargeable electrical energy storage system is disconnected. For fuel cell vehicles, the circuit between the fuel cell system and the drive system must be disconnected simultaneously.

3.8 touch current The electric current flowing through a person or animal's body when the person or animal comes into contact with one or more accessible parts of a device or apparatus. [Source: GB/T 12113-2023, 3.1]

4 Voltage level

4.1 Electrical components or circuits are classified according to their maximum working voltage as shown in Table 1.

4.2 For voltage class A electric circuits and voltage class B electric circuits that are conductively connected, if one pole of a DC live part in the circuit is connected to the electrical chassis, and the maximum voltage between any other live part and this pole is not greater than 30 V (a.c.)(rms) and not greater than 60 V (d.c.), then the conductive connection circuit does not completely belong to the voltage class B electric circuit, and only the part that operates at voltage class B electric circuit is identified as a voltage class B electric circuit.