On 31 December 2025, the National Standardization Administration (SAC) approved and released GB 18384-2025 Electric vehicles safety requirements. This standard was developed by SAC/TC114/SC27(Electric Vehicles) and supervised by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It is a revision of previous mandatory standards GB 18384-2020 Electric vehicles safety requirements . The new mandatory standard will take effect on 1 July 2026.
The standards revision is driven by the rapid advancement of electrification technologies and the growing EV market. It aims to elevate safety requirements to match current technological realities while harmonizing with UN R100 Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to specific requirements for the electric power train, UN GTR No.20 Electric Vehicle Safety, and ISO6469-3 Electrically propelled road vehicles – Safety specifications – Part 3: Electrical safety. However, it is important to note that the harmonization is not equivalent to direct adoption or modification. This standard was revised by referencing international benchmarks while carefully considering the technical capabilities of domestic products, local application scenarios, and testing experience from the past.
Key Revisions in the standards include:
- Added underbody scraping requirement and test method of whole-vehicle
- Revised requirements for power connection and disconnection procedures of drive system
- Revised requirements for maintenance disconnect devices
- Expanded application scenarios for insulation resistance monitoring
- Added steady-state current requirements and test methods
- Aligned REESS thermal event alarm requirements with specifications in GB 38031.
- Added requirements for user manual
- Adjusted depth of the vehicle’s water wading test from 100mm to 1500mm.
- Added enclosure pressure resistance test method.
According to official interpretation released by MIIT and SAC, for new models applying for type approval, compliance is mandatory starting 1 July 2026; for models that have obtained type approval, the implementation is deferred by a year, taking effect on 1 July 2027.
This standard plays a crucial role in safeguarding consumer life and property by establishing a robust safety baseline. It strengthens the national standard system, supports high-quality industrial development, and facilitates the application of advanced safety technologies. Furthermore, it enhances coordination between domestic and international frameworks, promoting smoother global trade and economic exchange. In light of these revisions, relevant stakeholders are advised to thoroughly review the newly revised mandatory standards, assess the impact on current product lines, and take necessary actions to ensure full compliance by the application deadlines.
Source: https://www.miit.gov.cn/jgsj/zbys/gzdt/art/2026/art_f039166879e4431dbefca8ecf38b2e13.html
