New Charging Pile Certification Rules for 2026

What certification do the 2026 new rules for charging piles require?

What is required is CCC compulsory product certification, based on GB/T 18487.1-2023 and the supporting conductive charging system standards. The new rules issued by the CNCA in March 2026 formally bring electric vehicle conductive charging equipment into CCC catalog management and also clarify the list of applicable standards, implementation rules, and transition period arrangements.

The certification path consists of three parts: type testing, initial factory inspection, and post-certification supervision. Type testing is completed by laboratories with the corresponding qualifications, while factory inspections focus on batch production consistency and key component control. Only after obtaining the CCC certificate can companies apply the CCC mark to nameplates and packaging.

Two types of compliance need to be distinguished: CCC is China market access, while SDoC or destination-country certification is export access. The two have different standards systems, and test reports cannot substitute for each other.

Which charging piles are covered by the applicable product scope?

AC charging piles, DC charging piles, and portable charging piles are all covered by the new rules, with units subdivided by power supply method and installation form. AC piles cover single-phase and three-phase, as well as different rated current levels; DC piles cover integrated and split types, with split types considered separately by power unit and terminal; because portable piles have flexible usage scenarios, the focus is on verifying residual current protection, cables, and plug assemblies.

The table above only lists certification attribution relationships; specific unit division is subject to the implementation rules. Whether different power levels in the same series can be merged into one unit depends on whether key components, structure, and electrical architecture are consistent.

How does GB/T 18487.1-2023 differ from the old version?

The new version tightens requirements in four areas: safety protection, control pilot, environmental adaptability, and information marking, and old-version reports cannot be used directly. The differences are mainly reflected in:

• Control pilot signals and state determination are more detailed, with clear requirements for response times under abnormal conditions;
• Functional safety requirements for residual current protection and insulation monitoring are higher, and some clauses require failure mode analysis;
• Temperature rise and protection rating assessment conditions are closer to actual installation environments;
• Requirements for the completeness of information on nameplates, warning markings, and instructions for use have increased.

For models already tested under the old version, it is usually necessary to supplement difference-item testing according to the new version rather than redo the entire set. The list of difference items is determined by the laboratory based on product structure and existing reports.

What is the relationship with GB/T 27930?

GB/T 27930 governs the communication protocol between DC charging piles and vehicles, while GB/T 18487.1 governs the general safety requirements of conductive charging systems; the relationship is "safety foundation + communication layer." When DC piles undergo CCC, safety items are based on the GB/T 18487.1 series, and communication consistency is assessed according to GB/T 27930.

AC piles do not involve the message interaction of GB/T 27930, but the control pilot part remains within the GB/T 18487.1 framework. When companies certify DC piles, they should place protocol consistency and safety testing in the same round of sample preparation to avoid repeated sample submission.

How is the transition period arranged?

The transition period proceeds in a "first acceptance, then deadline" manner. After the new rules are issued, a certification window is set, and after the window ends, products without certification stop leaving the factory and being sold. Specific milestones are subject to the CNCA implementation rules announcement, and companies should work backward from the announcement date.

In terms of scheduling, the type testing cycle is usually 4-8 weeks, with factory inspection and corrective actions taking another 2-4 weeks. For highly complex products that require corrective actions, the overall cycle will be longer. It is recommended to reserve time for at least one round of corrective actions before the deadline.

What should companies do now?

First sort out product units and compare standard differences, then lock down the sample and key component list, and prepare factory inspection documents at the same time. Specific actions:

1. Divide certification units by power supply method, power, and structure, and clarify the main tested model and covered models;
2. Conduct a clause-by-clause difference analysis against GB/T 18487.1-2023 and list the items requiring supplementary testing;
3. Lock down key component suppliers and specifications to ensure batch products are consistent with submitted samples;
4. Improve incoming inspection, production process control, and consistency inspection records;
5. Separately verify destination-country requirements for export models, and advance CCC and export certification in parallel.

Regulatory basis

• CNCA compulsory product certification implementation rules and catalog adjustment announcements — https://www.cnca.gov.cn
• Standard information on safety requirements for electric vehicle conductive charging systems — https://www.samr.gov.cn
• Information on laboratory accreditation and qualification accreditation — https://www.cnas.org.cn

References

• CNCA compulsory product certification implementation rules and catalog adjustment announcements — https://www.cnca.gov.cn
• Standard information on safety requirements for electric vehicle conductive charging systems — https://www.samr.gov.cn
• Information on laboratory accreditation and qualification accreditation — https://www.cnas.org.cn