The new standard introduces differentiated electricity-consumption caps by vehicle weight, tightening requirements by about 11% compared with the previous voluntary standard.
On Dec. 26, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation announced that the national standard “Limits of Energy Consumption for Electric Vehicles, Part 1: Passenger Cars” will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
The regulation is the world’s first mandatory standard setting upper limits on electricity consumption for electric passenger vehicles.
The standard takes into account current EV energy-use levels, potential efficiency gains from energy-saving technologies, cost constraints and the performance of special vehicle categories.
It introduces differentiated electricity-consumption caps by vehicle weight, tightening requirements by about 11% compared with the previous voluntary standard.
By setting tailored benchmarks based on vehicle usage profiles and technical characteristics, the new rules aim to accommodate model diversification while providing clear guidance for future development and deployment of energy-saving technologies.
Once the standard comes into force, automakers will be required to implement necessary technical upgrades for newly produced vehicles.
For example, passenger cars weighing around two tonnes must limit electricity consumption to no more than 15.1 kWh per 100 km.
After such upgrades, average driving range is expected to increase by around 7% without increasing battery capacity, significantly improving the user experience.
The move also aligns with recent policy changes. In October, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and two other government bodies adjusted the technical thresholds for NEV purchase tax exemptions for 2026–2027, with the introduction of this mandatory energy-consumption standard as the core change.
Under the revised rules, eligibility for inclusion in the catalogue of NEVs exempt from vehicle purchase tax will be directly linked to metrics such as energy consumption and driving range starting in 2026.
Specifically, BEVs must meet the new GB 36980.1—2025 energy-consumption limits per 100 km. PHEVs and EREVs are required to deliver a conditional equivalent all-electric range of no less than 100 km, while achieving fuel and electricity consumption levels well below the relevant national limits under both charge-sustaining and charge-depleting conditions.
For automakers, this means models must complete technical adjustments and regulatory filings within 2025 to continue qualifying for tax incentives.
Vehicles that fail to meet the new requirements will be removed from the tax-exemption list effective in 2026.
The implementation of the new standard is expected to accelerate energy-efficiency improvements in battery-electric passenger cars, raise overall vehicle efficiency levels and phase out high-consumption models, while pushing automakers to invest further in vehicle-level efficiency, thermal management, lightweighting and system integration.
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