China EV Battery Durability Standard Introduces SOCE Rules for Electric Vehicles

China Introduces New EV Battery Durability Standard

China’s new EV Battery Durability Standard has officially introduced stricter requirements for evaluating electric vehicle power battery performance and long-term usability. According to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on July 22, the recommended national standard, Durability Requirements and Test Methods for Onboard Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles—Part 1: Light Vehicles (GB/T 46991.1-2025), came into effect on July 1, 2026. The standard applies to Category N1 vehicles as well as Category M1 and M2 vehicles with a maximum design gross vehicle mass not exceeding 3,500 kg.

The new regulation establishes SOCE (State of Certified Energy) as a unified measurement method for assessing onboard power battery durability. SOCE represents the ratio between a battery’s current usable energy and its certified usable energy when the vehicle was new. A higher SOCE value indicates greater remaining battery capacity and driving range closer to original vehicle performance, while a lower value reflects increased battery degradation over time.

The implementation of the standard in China introduces mandatory SOCE information disclosure requirements for electric vehicle users. Vehicles must provide consumers with SOCE data, and the difference between the displayed value and the measured value must remain within 5%. This enables customers to verify battery condition through the vehicle center touchscreen or official mobile applications, improving transparency and confidence in long-term electric vehicle ownership.

The standard also defines minimum performance requirements for electric vehicle power battery durability through SOCE-based thresholds at different age and mileage stages. The requirements evaluate battery performance after 5 years or 100,000 km, 8 years or 160,000 km, and 10 years or 200,000 km of vehicle operation. These benchmarks establish measurable expectations for battery health retention and support more consistent evaluation of battery lifecycle performance across different vehicle categories.

The durability requirements consider variations in real-world vehicle applications by introducing different minimum performance thresholds for light-duty passenger vehicles and light-duty commercial vehicles. This approach allows battery durability assessments to better reflect different operating conditions, usage patterns, and energy demands. The standard is expected to strengthen battery quality management and encourage manufacturers to improve long-term reliability of electric vehicle power systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the new electric vehicle battery durability standard?
The new standard establishes a unified framework for measuring and disclosing electric vehicle battery durability through SOCE evaluation. It helps consumers understand remaining battery energy compared with the original certified capacity of a new vehicle. The regulation introduces accuracy requirements for displayed battery health information and defines minimum durability thresholds based on vehicle age and mileage. It also supports improved battery performance consistency across passenger and commercial electric vehicles.