From Quantity to Quality — New National Standards Enhance EV Safety and Reliability
The next two years will mark a pivotal phase in China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) market, transitioning from rapid volume growth to quality-oriented development. With the full implementation of the new GB38031-2025 national standard, the safety of power batteries will see a fundamental upgrade, easing consumer concerns and driving the industry toward a healthier, more sustainable growth trajectory.
Copper Innovation Strengthens Battery Safety
In the face of the new, stringent standards, material innovation has become a key pathway to achieving safer batteries. High-quality copper materials, thanks to their unique physical properties, play an irreplaceable role in enhancing the safety of EV battery systems.
Copper’s superior electrical conductivity is its foremost advantage. As the anode current collector in power battery systems, copper foil ensures even current distribution, preventing local overheating. Copper-core harnesses and connectors with high conductivity reduce heat generation during energy transmission, minimizing the risk of thermal runaway at the source.
Copper’s excellent thermal conductivity is another major strength. During fast-charging processes, effective thermal management is essential to maintaining battery temperatures within safe operating ranges.
Additionally, copper’s strong resistance to electrical corrosion significantly improves system reliability. Compared with other metals, copper exhibits excellent anti-corrosion performance under various operating conditions in EVs. This reduces overheating caused by increased contact resistance and prevents electric arcing, greatly enhancing the long-term reliability of high-voltage connection systems.
High-Voltage Architecture: Challenges and Solutions
With the adoption of 800V high-voltage platforms and ultra-fast charging technologies, safety and reliability requirements have risen sharply. High-voltage systems substantially boost charging efficiency and reduce energy consumption, but also present new safety challenges.
In such high-voltage, high-current environments, the reliability of connectors and transmission lines faces greater pressure. Copper-based connectors and harnesses, with their stable chemical properties and excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, provide robust assurance for these systems.
New insulation and thermal barrier materials have shown remarkable results at the battery module level, though costs remain high. Compared with traditional insulation, advanced materials can reduce thermal conductivity and extend heat transfer times by more than threefold, providing crucial extra response time during thermal events.
China’s Standards Set the Stage for Global Safety Upgrades
The implementation of GB38031-2025 will not only accelerate natural selection within China’s NEV industry but could also serve as a benchmark for global EV safety standards. As Chinese NEVs expand into international markets, their advanced safety and reliability standards are expected to gain wider acceptance abroad.
Leading domestic automakers have already made early preparations for the new standard. Over 80% of companies now possess the technical capabilities required to comply. Following its enforcement on July 1, 2026, a new wave of technological upgrades is expected to reshape the industry landscape.
Battery safety remains one of the top concerns among EV consumers. Despite repeated assurances from automakers, consumers often lack a tangible sense of safety. The new national standard will help alleviate such anxiety, shifting the NEV market from policy-driven to market-driven growth.
The upgrade of China’s power battery safety standards not only reflects technological advancement and industrial maturity but also underscores the nation’s commitment to excellence in safety and quality. As China’s NEV sector continues its global expansion, these high standards are poised to make a meaningful contribution to elevating EV safety worldwide.
Source：Tencent News