China has approved a mandatory national safety standard for lithium-ion batteries intended for electric motorcycles and mopeds. The document, developed by the State Administration for Market Regulation of China and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, will enter into force on July 1, 2027. The initiative was adopted against the backdrop of steady growth in the popularity of electric transport in the country and the associated increase in incidents related to battery pack overheating and fires. The new regulatory act sets uniform requirements for testing battery cells, battery packs, and entire systems, establishing separate criteria for comprehensive safety assessment at each level.
Expansion of Testing Scope: From Low Temperatures to Fire Resistance
A key innovation of the standard is a significant expansion of the list of mandatory tests. In addition to basic checks, manufacturers will be required to demonstrate the operability and safety of batteries after low-temperature exposure cycles followed by heating, which models real operational scenarios in various climatic zones. The list includes mechanical crushing tests, durability checks for battery pack carrying handles, evaluation of heat propagation within the structure, and fire resistance of the materials used. Special attention in the document is paid to conditions arising during actual operation of electric transport rather than just in laboratory environments.
Labeling and Uniformity of Assessment Procedures
The standard also establishes mandatory requirements for battery product labeling, enabling consumers and regulatory authorities to quickly identify product compliance with regulatory requirements. The document details testing rules and result evaluation criteria, which, according to the developers, should eliminate discrepancies during inspections by various certification bodies. The uniformity of methodology will become an important tool for supervisory structures in monitoring compliance at all stages—from production to retail sales.
Impact on Manufacturers and the Market
The transition to a mandatory standard significantly raises the bar for market entry. Manufacturers will have to reconsider their approaches to selecting battery cells, improve thermal management systems, strengthen the structural protection of battery packs, and use flame-retardant materials on a larger scale. Products that do not meet the new requirements will not be able to legally enter circulation after July 1, 2027. For companies already operating in China's electric transport market, this means the need for investments in modernizing production processes and laboratory test benches for an expanded testing cycle. For consumers, the standard should serve as a guarantee that the purchased electric motorcycle or moped has undergone comprehensive safety testing under conditions as close to real as possible.
Context: Why Now
The adoption of the standard in October 2026 and its entry into force in mid-2027 give manufacturers about a year to adapt. This decision reflects the general trend of Chinese regulators toward tightening safety requirements for electric transport, which has become a mass market segment over the past few years. The rise in the number of battery pack fire incidents in electric motorcycles and mopeds recorded against the backdrop of electric transport expansion into urban environments has become a direct trigger for developing an expanded list of tests. The new standard is positioned as a systemic tool to reduce risks for the end user and unify certification approaches at the national level.
