Overview
GB/T 31467-3 is a Chinese national standard covering the safety requirements and test methods for lithium-ion traction battery packs and systems used in electric vehicles. Part 3 of the GB/T 31467 series focuses specifically on safety performance, addressing potential hazards at the battery pack and system level rather than individual cell behaviour.
The standard is published by the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) and forms part of a suite of national standards governing EV battery technology in China. It is closely related to GB/T 31485 (cell and module level safety) and GB/T 31484 (cycle life), together forming a comprehensive safety framework for EV traction batteries.
Scope
GB/T 31467-3 applies to lithium-ion traction battery packs and systems intended for use in road-going electric vehicles, including battery electric vehicles (BEV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV/PHEV). The standard defines safety requirements and test procedures that battery packs and systems must meet before being approved for vehicle integration and sale in China.
Key Requirements
The standard specifies safety performance requirements for traction battery packs and systems under both normal operating conditions and abuse scenarios. It sets out criteria for the battery management system (BMS) interface, insulation resistance, protection against electrical hazards, and mechanical integrity. The standard requires that battery packs do not pose fire, explosion, or electrocution risks under the defined test conditions.
Testing Requirements
GB/T 31467-3 defines a series of safety tests at pack and system level, including vibration testing to simulate road-induced loads, mechanical shock and crush assessments, thermal stability testing including thermal cycling and extreme temperature exposure, water ingress (IP) testing, external short circuit at pack level, overcharge and over-discharge verification of BMS protective functions, and salt spray testing for corrosion resistance of external surfaces and connectors.
Tests are conducted at defined state of charge levels, temperatures, and discharge rates representative of real-world EV use. Pass/fail criteria require that the battery pack does not catch fire, explode, or leak hazardous electrolyte during or after testing.
Relevance to Battery Design
For engineers designing or supplying battery packs and systems for the Chinese EV market, compliance with GB/T 31467-3 is a prerequisite for vehicle type approval. The standard drives design decisions around pack enclosure robustness, BMS protective functions, thermal management system performance, and connector design. Understanding the test regime at pack level is essential for verifying that cell-level safety margins (covered in GB/T 31485) translate effectively into safe pack-level behaviour.