In 2026, China will impose mandatory EV energy consumption limits

China is set to implement the world’s first mandatory energy consumption limits for electric passenger vehicles from January 1, 2026, marking a significant shift from voluntary guidelines to binding efficiency standards that are expected to influence global EV development.

The new national standard, titled “Limits of Energy Consumption for Electric Vehicles – Part 1: Passenger Cars” (GB 36980.1-2025), will apply to all newly manufactured pure electric passenger vehicles, according to official documents released by Chinese authorities. The regulation replaces earlier non-mandatory benchmarks and establishes enforceable consumption thresholds.

Under the standard, maximum electricity consumption limits are defined based on vehicle weight and technical parameters. For pure electric passenger cars with a curb weight of approximately two tonnes, the maximum permitted energy consumption has been set at 15.1 kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometres.

Compared with the previous recommended framework, the new mandatory limits tighten energy

efficiency requirements by around 11%. Regulators stated that the thresholds were established following an assessment of energy-saving potential, cost implications, and the technical performance of different vehicle segments.

Automakers will be required to modify vehicle designs to meet the new standards. Authorities noted that, for vehicles using the same battery capacity, compliance could result in an average driving range increase of about 7%, driven by lower energy consumption rather than larger batteries.

The regulation applies exclusively to pure electric vehicles and does not cover plug-in hybrid or extended-range electric models. Official documents attribute expected efficiency gains to system-level improvements, including vehicle architecture and powertrain optimisation.

Compliance with the new energy consumption limits has also been linked to purchase tax incentives. From 2026 to 2027, pure electric passenger vehicles must meet the mandatory thresholds to remain eligible for tax exemptions. Models already included in the purchase tax exemption catalogue by the end of 2025 will be carried over into the 2026 list only if they comply with the updated standard, while non-compliant models may be removed.

The policy is expected to have implications for both domestic sales and exports. Industry analysts anticipate that the regulation will encourage manufacturers to prioritise efficiency-focused improvements such as enhanced aerodynamics, drivetrain optimisation, and vehicle weight reduction.

Chinese authorities said the measure forms part of broader national energy planning efforts, noting that higher vehicle efficiency will help moderate electricity demand growth as electric vehicle adoption continues to expand.

The detailed article is published by https:https://www.electrive.com/ can be accessed from https://www.electrive.com/2026/01/02/china-tightens-energy-consumption-rules-for-electric-vehicles/