CATL Becomes First Battery Maker to Meet China’s Toughest EV Safety Standard

CATL has made headlines once again—this time by becoming the first battery manufacturer to meet China’s newest and strictest EV battery safety standard: GB 38031-2025, set to take effect from July 1, 2026.

This new regulation introduces a bold requirement: batteries must not catch fire or explode even during thermal runaway, a serious internal failure that can trigger chain reactions inside a battery pack.

Released in March 2025, the GB 38031-2025 standard moves away from simply warning drivers and instead demands real preventive safety. Key new tests include a bottom impact test to assess mechanical protection and a 300-cycle fast charging durability test, followed by a short-circuit trial. To pass, the battery must remain intact and non-combustible throughout.

CATL’s Qilin battery was put to the test—this is their third-generation CTP (cell-to-pack) unit with 72% volume efficiency and energy density up to 255 Wh/kg. Both individual cells and complete packs were tested by China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC), which also oversees China’s crash and safety tests.

The Qilin battery, launched in 2022, is already in EVs from major automakers including Zeekr, Li Auto, Xiaomi, Aito, Avatr, Lotus, and more. CATL says the Qilin design includes a reinforced load-bearing structure and better thermal protection, enabling it to contain thermal diffusion in extreme cases.

This announcement was made official on April 29, with representatives from CATL, CATARC, and China’s Energy Systems Department present during the certification handover. The achievement sets CATL apart not only in terms of battery output but also safety, a key metric for future global EV adoption.

As of February 2025, more than 18 million vehicles worldwide are equipped with CATL batteries, solidifying the company’s lead as both a technology innovator and a trusted name in EV safety.