On September 9, 2026, MIIT opened public consultation on draft GB 24549-XXXX, Fuel cell electric vehicles-Safety requirements. The draft would replace the recommended GB/T 24549-2020 with a mandatory national standard for M- and N-category vehicles using compressed gaseous hydrogen at nominal working pressure not exceeding 70 MPa.

Major proposed changes include hot-state hydrogen-emission tests under driving cycles, with a three-second average concentration limit of 4%, an instantaneous limit of 8% and a vehicle hydrogen-emission-ratio limit of 8%; revised leakage controls; hydrogen detection, warning and automatic shut-off requirements; post-crash safety; mandatory vehicle-to-station refueling communication for 70 MPa systems; and consolidated requirements for onboard hydrogen-system protection, leak tightness, installation strength, environmental durability, pressure relief and refueling receptacles.

The draft also adds same-type criteria defining when systems, receptacles or complete vehicles must be retested. Comments are due November 8, 2026.

The explanatory memorandum recommends implementation on January 1, 2028, with new type approvals complying from that date and existing approved types from the thirteenth month after implementation; these dates remain proposals.

Impact

Impact assessment: Medium.

Key reasons: the draft would convert an existing vehicle-approval standard into a mandatory GB standard and add significant testing, design, warning, shutdown, refueling-communication and type-family requirements, but it is not yet final.

Who is affected?

Fuel-cell vehicle manufacturers, hydrogen-system and component suppliers, testing facilities, approval applicants, importers and operators.

Conclusion:

affected companies should compare current designs and approval evidence against the draft, assess the new hydrogen-emission and same-type provisions and submit technical comments by November 8, 2026