For years, the portable power market was driven by a simple metric: Price per mAh. However, as we push into the era of 140W+ PD 3.1 charging and high-capacity portable energy storage, the “cheap and cheerful” approach has reached its safety limit.
The upcoming Chinese mandatory standard for power banks (GB XXXXX-XXXX Safety Technical Specification) is more than just a local regulation. It represents a fundamental shift in how portable power is engineered.
1. Beyond Basic Protection: The “Single Fault” Mandate
Current market-standard PCBA designs often rely on a single layer of protection. If a MOSFET fails, the battery risks thermal runaway. The new standard (Section 4.5 & 6.1) requires that the device remains safe (no fire, no explosion) even under Single Fault Conditions.
- The Reachinno Advantage: This is why our PCBA costs are higher. We implement hardware-level redundancy and dual-path protection circuits, ensuring that if one component fails, the system still safeguards the user.
2. Smart Management: The “Black Box” of Battery Health
One of the most forward-thinking aspects of the new draft is Smart Management (Section 6.9). Moving forward, power banks must not only monitor but also record abnormal data (over-voltage, extreme temperatures) for the duration of their service life.
- What this means: Power banks are becoming “intelligent systems.” Our latest solutions integrate chips capable of logging “abnormal events,” providing a data trail that ensures long-term reliability and liability protection for brand owners.
3. Material-Level Integrity: No More “Grey Area” Cells
The draft explicitly forbids the use of “Second-life” (retired) batteries for type testing (Section 4.5.1) and mandates strict impurity controls for battery materials.
- Strict Material Testing: From moisture content to magnetic impurities (Section 8.2), the standard penetrates the entire supply chain. Reachinno’s commitment to “A-grade only” cell sourcing isn’t just a preference—it’s now the baseline for compliance.
4. The Macro View: Export Tax Rebates and Industry Cleansing
The timing of this standard coincides with the Chinese government’s decision to cancel export tax rebates for lithium-ion batteries. This is a strategic move to discourage low-end, low-value manufacturing.
- The Industry Washout: We are witnessing a massive industry “washout.” Small factories that survived on tax subsidies and cutting corners on safety will vanish.
- Future-Proofing Your Brand: For global buyers, choosing a partner who already meets these rigorous 3C standards is the best way to mitigate recall risks and insurance premiums in the US and EU markets.
Conclusion: Reachinno’s Vision
At Reachinno, we didn’t wait for the standard to be finalized. Our current architecture in Mechanical Design, PCBA redundancy, and Thermal Management already addresses the “worst-case scenarios” defined in the new draft.
In 2026, the question is no longer “How cheap can you make it?” but “How safe is your 140W output after 300 cycles?” We have the answers.
Looking to upgrade your product line to the new safety standard? [Contact our Engineering Team today]
