What's new in 2025¶
GB 38031-2025 replaces GB 38031-2020. The Preface of the 2025 edition lists every technical change. This page reproduces that list, organized by category. Use it as a checklist when migrating an existing GB 38031-2020 type approval.
Source — the Preface change list¶
This document replaces GB 38031—2020 "Safety Requirements for Power Batteries Used in Electric Vehicles". Compared with GB 38031—2020, the main technical changes, aside from structural adjustments and editorial modifications, are as follows…
Source: GB 38031-2025 Preface (PDF pages 5–6).
NEW tests (added in 2025)¶
Two tests are entirely new — they did not exist in the 2020 edition.
| Clause | Test | Object | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1.7 / 8.1.8 | Safety after fast-charge cycles | cell | 300 fast-charge cycles (20 ↔ 80 % SOC, ≤15 min per leg), then run the 8.1.4 external short test. Pass = no fire, no explosion (after the 8.1.4 step). |
| 5.2.16 / 8.2.16 | Bottom impact | pack/system/vehicle | Hemispherical impactor, Ø 30 mm, 10 kg, 45# steel; +z direction; 150 J ± 3 J at three risk points. Exemption for N-class vehicles with min ground clearance ≥ 200 mm fully loaded. |
Safety requirements and test methods for battery cell fast-charging cycles have been added (see 5.1.7 and 8.1.8). Safety requirements and test methods for bottom impact of battery packs, systems, or whole vehicles have been added (see 5.2.16 and 8.2.16).
Source: GB 38031-2025 Preface (PDF page 5–6).
REVISED requirements only (5.x changed; 8.x not changed)¶
The pass criteria changed but the test method itself was not updated.
| Clause | Test | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5.2.2 | Mechanical shock (pack/system) | Requirements revised |
| 5.2.3 | Simulated collision (pack/system) | Requirements revised |
| 5.2.5 | Damp heat cycling (pack/system) | Requirements revised |
| 5.2.6 | Immersion (pack/system) | Requirements revised |
| 5.2.13 | External short-circuit protection (system) | Requirements revised |
| 5.2.15 | Over-discharge protection (system) | Requirements revised |
Source: GB 38031-2025 Preface (PDF pages 5–6); see also the cheatsheet methodology note on the all-tests page.
REVISED methods only (8.x changed; 5.x not changed)¶
These cell tests had their procedures revised, but the cell pass criterion remained "no fire, no explosion".
| Clause | Test | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8.1.2 | Over-discharge (cell) | Method revised |
| 8.1.5 | Heating (cell) | Method revised |
| 8.1.7 | Compression / extrusion (cell) | Method revised |
The test method for over-discharge of battery cells has been revised (see 8.1.2, 2020 Edition 8.1.2).
The test method for heating of battery cells has been revised (see 8.1.5, 2020 Edition 8.1.5).
The test method for compression of battery cells has been revised (see 8.1.7, 2020 Edition 8.1.7).
Source: GB 38031-2025 Preface (PDF page 6).
BOTH revised — requirements and methods¶
These tests had both the 5.x criterion and the 8.x procedure revised.
| Clause(s) | Test | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5.2.1 / 8.2.1 | Vibration (pack/system) | Both revised |
| 5.2.4 / 8.2.4 | Compression (pack/system) | Both revised |
| 5.2.7 / 8.2.7 / Appendix C | Thermal stability — external fire and thermal propagation | Both revised, plus Appendix C revised. Headline change — see callout below. |
| 5.2.8 / 8.2.8 | Temperature shock (pack/system) | Both revised |
| 5.2.9 / 8.2.9 | Salt fog (pack/system) | Both revised |
| 5.2.10 / 8.2.10 | High altitude (pack/system) | Both revised |
| 5.2.11 / 8.2.11 | Over-temperature protection (system) | Both revised |
| 5.2.12 / 8.2.12 | Over-current protection (system) | Both revised |
| 5.2.14 / 8.2.14 | Overcharge protection (system) | Both revised |
Source: GB 38031-2025 Preface (PDF pages 5–6).
Headline change — thermal propagation pass criterion (5.2.7 b)¶
The 2025 edition strengthens the thermal propagation pass criterion. The pre-2025 criterion centered on a 5-minute warning window before fire/explosion. The 2025 criterion adds no fire and no explosion at the pack/system level alongside the warning, and adds an explicit smoke-control requirement for the ±5-min window around the warning.
The 2025 criterion (5.2.7 b)) requires all of:
- No fire, no explosion;
- Thermal-event warning signal issued ≤ 5 minutes after thermal runaway is triggered;
- Smoke does not endanger the passenger compartment in the ±5-min window around the warning (vehicle level: smoke must not enter the cabin).
Engineering note (non-normative): This is the most consequential single change in the 2025 edition. The earlier requirement permitted thermal propagation provided occupants had time to escape; the 2025 requirement effectively requires the pack to prevent thermal propagation to the point of fire or explosion. Pack architecture choices made under the 2020 standard (e.g., reliance on cell-to-cell propagation timing rather than barriers) need re-evaluation.
See The 5-minute warning for the verbatim text and operational details.
Definitions changes¶
Added in 2025¶
| Clause | Term | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | Battery subsystem | A collection of any energy storage components formed from the components of a battery pack or system. (Enables the 6.1.6 substitution rule for tests where a full pack is impractical.) |
| 3.15 | Thermal event | A phenomenon where the temperature inside the battery pack or system is significantly higher than the highest operating temperature (as defined by the manufacturer). |
A definition for "battery subsystems" has been added (see 3.5).
A definition for "thermal event" has been added (see 3.15).
Revised in 2025¶
| Clause | Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3.14 | Leakage | Definition revised. The 2025 wording is: "The phenomenon where visible substances leak from the battery cell, module, battery pack, or system to the outside of the test object." With Note: "Visible substances are judged visually without dismantling the test object." Was clause 3.13 in the 2020 edition. |
The definition of "leakage" has been revised (see 3.14, 2020 Edition 3.13).
Source: GB 38031-2025 Preface (PDF page 5).
Other revised items¶
| Clause | What changed |
|---|---|
| 1 | Scope modified vs. 2020 Chapter 1. |
| 6.1.9 | Actual capacity requirements revised. |
| 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 | Measurement instrument accuracy, process errors, and data recording intervals revised. |
| 7.1.2, 7.2.2 | Pre-treatment requirements for battery cells, packs, or systems revised. |
| Chapter 9 | Same-type determination — new chapter added. |
| Appendix B | Insulation resistance test methods revised. |
The requirements for actual capacity have been revised (see 6.1.9, 2020 Edition 6.1.9).
Accuracy of measurement instruments, process errors, and data recording and intervals have been revised (see 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4, 2020 Edition 6.2, 6.3, and 6.4).
Requirements for the pre-treatment of battery cells, battery packs, or systems have been revised (see 7.1.2 and 7.2.2, 2020 Edition 7.1.2 and 7.2.2).
A determination of the same type has been added (see Chapter 9).
The test method for insulation resistance of battery packs or systems has been revised (see Appendix B, 2020 Edition Appendix B).
Source: GB 38031-2025 Preface (PDF pages 5–6).
Cross-references¶
- The 5-minute warning — full treatment of the headline 5.2.7 b) change.
- When it takes effect — clause 10 implementation timeline.
- All tests at a glance — the
Statuscolumn on each row reflects the categorization above. - Pass / fail criteria — leakage definition (3.14) and other revised criteria.