China Automotive New Energy (China Auto NEV) has published the 2027 edition of its Premium Drive high-quality electric drive verification rules, tightening performance requirements as the industry shifts toward higher integration, higher voltage, and higher rotational speeds. The new rules, released on September 29, 2026, update evaluation methods across five dimensions: power performance, energy efficiency, power safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and noise quality, according to the Chinese outlet D1EV.
Stricter power and efficiency targets
The revised rules raise the minimum specific power for electric drive systems from 2.5 kW/kg to 3.0 kW/kg, and increase the wheel-end specific torque requirement from 45 N·m/kg to 55 N·m/kg. The high-power sustained operation range is also expanded from 7 to 8 on the evaluation scale. These changes aim to assess not just peak output but the ability to deliver high power continuously across a wide speed range.
On energy efficiency, the new rules shift the focus from the traditional “double 85” high-efficiency zone coverage to efficiency under the CLTC driving cycle. Silicon-based electric drive systems must now achieve at least 90% efficiency under CLTC, while silicon carbide (SiC) and newer semiconductor systems must reach 92%. This move reflects a growing emphasis on real-world energy performance rather than laboratory benchmark figures.
Safety and electromagnetic testing upgraded
For power safety, the new rules streamline the previous 39 test items to 32, removing 10 that were deemed redundant or less applicable, while adding three new scenarios for unintended torque: excessive unintended output torque, unintended torque in the reverse direction, and unintended torque output under zero torque request. The changes are designed to focus on the most critical risks to vehicle power safety.
Electromagnetic compatibility requirements are also tightened. The minimum human electromagnetic protection margin increases from 6 dB to 9 dB, and radiation emission limits for AM/FM frequency bands are raised to level 5, while other bands remain at level 3. A new 100 V/m reverberation chamber immunity test will examine how electric drive systems maintain communication and functional stability under external electromagnetic interference.
The noise quality evaluation method remains largely unchanged, continuing to use psychoacoustic parameters such as loudness, sharpness, tone-to-noise ratio, and prominence ratio to assess sound characteristics. This continuity allows for consistent tracking of product sound attributes over time.
China Auto NEV said the new rules are part of its “AI for Premium” initiative, which uses large language models to analyze data from verified products and turn it into executable, traceable, and reproducible evaluation requirements. The company also introduced a “Test+” engineering value service to promote data analysis, technical interpretation, and industry exchange, aiming to help consumers understand performance parameters and product features.
