Guaranteed batteries without fire or explosion for electric cars

Europe overwhelmed by China in terms of standards? Once it is not custom, this is indeed the case. China has hardened standards for electric car batteries sold on its territory. These should no longer take on fire or explode and, good news, Catl, the number one of the battery in the world has already complied with it.

Are electric car fires more numerous than those of thermal models? As several studies already prove, The answer is no. But why do you have the impression that this is not the case?

The over-media of this kind of event plays a lot, especially since, it is a fact, the fires of electric cars are more spectacular compared to those of thermal.

This phenomenon, which is called Thermal runoffmakes the fatty cabbage of certain headlines, thus suggesting that these fires are recurrent. But it is not.

Safety elements that improve

The fact remains that they are more difficult to extend than thermal, there too it is a fact, and to limit them, limit water consumption and all associated risks, some manufacturers work on interesting solutions, like the system Fireman Access From Renault that we were able to observe very closely, or this new system signed Hyundai and very different from that of Renault.

And in terms of government standards, where are we? Not very advanced will say, and if you usually have to turn to Europe to get standards, It is on the side of China that the one concerning the safety of fire batteries in electric cars is the most complete.

As we announced to you a few days ago, to improve a little more security and mitigate this risk, the Chinese government has adopted a new standard “Safety requirements for electric vehicle supply batteries”.

A severe but essential standard

The new standard, baptized GB38031-2025was officially published this week by the Chinese government. And the tone is clear: “The batteries should neither explode nor take fire, even in the event of thermal runoff”.

Thus, to be marketed on the Chinese market from 1^is July 2026, the date of entry into force of the standard, the batteries will have to pass a series of much more restrictive tests than before, with in particular a contained thermal spread, a mechanical shock resistance, an external short-circuit after 300 rapid charging cycles … without it triggering a fire, or an explosion. If so, the battery in question will not be validated for marketing.

Good news, according to CarNewsChinathe largest manufacturer of batteries for electric cars, CATL, said they responded to this new local standard, with ahead.

The CATL battery pack, as well as the cells that compose it, has been subjected to tests. This is the “Qilin” battery, based on “Cell-to-Pack” technology, which eliminates the use of intermediate modules. This certification was issued by the Chinese Center for Research and Automobile Technology (Catarc), the organization also responsible for C-NCAP crash tests.

Recall that Catl provides many brands in Europe such as those of the Geely group (Zeekr, Lotus and Volvo), Mercedes (as on the new Cla) or certain models from Stellantis. So many models which will therefore be “protected” via this new standard, a standard that we should soon find in Europe elsewhere.