GB/T 34014-2017 - Battery Design

Coding Regulation for Automotive Traction Battery

GB/T 34014-2017 establishes the coding structure and traceability requirements for automotive traction batteries in China. It defines the composition and format of a mandatory identification code that must be assigned to each traction battery cell, module, and pack throughout its entire lifecycle — from manufacture through use, retirement, and recycling. The standard was issued in 2017 and the associated battery registration system was implemented in 2018. An amendment (Amendment No. 1) is scheduled to take effect on 1 August 2026, updating coding requirements in light of changes to battery architectures including the removal of the module tier under GB/T 31486-2024.

Published by: Standardization Administration of China (SAC)

Current edition: GB/T 34014-2017; Amendment No. 1 effective 1 August 2026

Status: Recommended (GB/T prefix) — but compliance is de facto mandatory for MIIT type approval and battery registration

Scope

GB/T 34014 applies to:

Automotive traction batteries: lithium-ion cells, modules, and packs used in electric vehicles
Supercapacitors: for traction applications in road vehicles
Other rechargeable energy storage devices: used for vehicle propulsion in China

Code Structure

The traceability code has between 19 and 24 digits depending on battery type and intended use. The code structure includes:

Manufacturer identification: unique enterprise code assigned to the battery manufacturer
Product type code: identifying whether the item is a cell, module, or pack
Chemistry and format code: identifying lithium chemistry type and cell format
Production batch and serial number: enabling individual unit traceability
Date code: year and month of manufacture

Battery Registration System

China operates a national battery registration database (managed under MIIT) to which manufacturers must upload battery code data. Registration is required for:

New battery cells and packs before vehicle type approval
Replacement batteries supplied to the aftermarket
Batteries designated for second-life energy storage use

The registration system underpins traceability across the full battery lifecycle including retirement, second-life repurposing, and end-of-life recycling, supporting China’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) framework for batteries.

Impact of Amendment No. 1 (2026)

The 2024 revision of GB/T 31486 removed the “module” level from Chinese traction battery standards. The forthcoming Amendment No. 1 to GB/T 34014 updates the coding framework to reflect this architectural change, removing module-level code requirements where battery systems move directly from cell to pack without a discrete module tier.

Related Standards

GB 38031 — EV traction battery safety; pack codes traceable to registered manufacturer data
GB/T 31486-2024 — Electrical performance; removal of module tier directly impacts coding structure

Disclaimer: This is not a definitive guide, just an indication and it is important that you always go back to the source for legislation.