National Standard for Electric Vehicle Battery Durability Takes Effect

[Policy Announcement] A unified standard for measuring electric vehicle battery degradation will be implemented.

Key Development: Starting July 2026, New Vehicles Must Disclose Battery Health Status

The national standard GB/T 46991.1-2025 was published on December 31, 2025, and will officially take effect on July 1, 2026. It requires newly manufactured light-duty electric vehicles to display battery degradation status to users via the vehicle’s infotainment system or a mobile app.

Key Metric: SOCE Becomes the Sole Evaluation Indicator

The new standard introduces SOCE (State of Charge Energy) as the core metric—defined as the ratio of the battery’s current usable energy to its usable energy when new. For example, if a vehicle’s range declines from 500 kilometers to 400 kilometers, its SOCE is 80%.

Industry Impact: Ending the Chaos Around “Health” Claims

Previously, manufacturers used inconsistent terminology—such as “capacity” or “lifespan”—to describe battery condition, with no standardized definitions. After implementation of the new standard, consumers will be able to compare battery degradation levels across brands, significantly improving transparency in vehicle purchasing and usage.