The world's first mandatory standard for electric vehicle energy consumption limits will be implemented starting next year.

According to the announcement from the State Administration for Market Regulation on December 26, the national standard "Limit Value for Energy Consumption of Electric Vehicles Part 1: Passenger Cars" (GB 36980.1-2025) will be implemented from January 1, 2026. This standard is the world's first mandatory standard for the energy consumption limit of electric vehicles. The standard comprehensively considers the current energy consumption status of pure electric passenger cars, the potential of energy-saving technologies, cost control, and the performance of energy consumption of special vehicle types. It proposes energy consumption limits for different vehicle weights, which are approximately 11% stricter than the previous recommended standards. It also presents adapted indicator requirements based on the differences in energy consumption of vehicle models with different usage characteristics and technical features, effectively taking into account the diverse development needs of vehicle models and providing guidance for the research and application of energy-saving technologies in the future. After the implementation of the new standard, companies must carry out necessary technical upgrades on newly manufactured products. For example, for a vehicle weighing around 2 tons, the new standard stipulates that the energy consumption should not exceed 15.1 kWh per 100 kilometers. With the technological upgrades, the average driving range of electric vehicles will increase by approximately 7% without changing the battery capacity, leading to a significantly improved driving experience for users. The implementation of the new standard for energy consumption of electric vehicles will play a positive role in promoting the advancement of energy-saving technologies for pure electric passenger cars, improving the efficiency level of vehicles, and phasing out high-energy consumption models. It will provide crucial support for the automotive industry to achieve carbon peaking, facilitate the trade-in of old vehicles for new ones, and promote the high-quality development of the new energy vehicle industry. This article is selected from the State Administration for Market Regulation, GMTEight Editor: Chen Wenfang.