Legalities of Electric Bike Use

Road Safety

Each State is responsible for deciding how to treat ebikes and currently all States agree that ebikes do not require licensing or registration.

We specialise in street legal ebikes. We limit the risk to our business and our customers by offering exceptional quality options which comply with the legislation. We want to keep our customers safe, insured and covered. We do not sell over-powered or illegal models.

Australia-wide road safety

  • Pedal assist (pedelec) is mandatory
  • ebikes can have a motor of 250W (500W in NSW only) of continuous rated power which can only be activated above 6km/hr by pedalling and must cut out over 25 km/hr (compliant with EU standard EN15194:2009 or EN 15194:2009+A1:2011)
  • ebikes with a combined maximum power output not exceeding 200W does not have to comply with EN15194
  • Bikes with power output over 250W (500W in NSW only), with motors which continue to operate over 25km/hr but do not exceed 50 km/hr are considered mopeds and are treated as motorcycles (licenced, registered, road use or private land only)
  • Safe operation compliant with local and national rules (bikes must have working bell, and a reflector and lights if used at night or in poor visibility and rider must wear a helmet unless exempt)

State regulations vary. Please refer to the relevant government department in the State where you wish to use your ebike:

NSW: http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/safety-rules/standards/vsi-27-mopeds-power-assisted-pedal-cycles.pdf

Queensland: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/wheeled-devices/bicycle#legal-motorised

Victoria: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/cyclist-safety/power-assisted-bicycles

Queensland

Queensland law changed on 28 June 2019 (Announcement by Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Hon. Mark Bailey)

  • Queensland laws require a bike, including power-assisted ones, to use pedals as the primary source of power (known as pedelec)
  • An electric bike can operate without the rider pedalling for initial take off only and to a maximum speed of 6km/hr
  • The motor must cut out at 25km/hr, with the rider able to pedal like a standard bike above this speed
  • All motorised bicycles with internal combustion engines (petrol, diesel) are illegal

 New South Wales

  • Petrol powered cycles were banned in October 2014

 Victoria

  • ebikes with motor’s maximum power output does not exceed 200W may be electric or petrol-powered

 Future potential

  • A petition to allow pedelec ebikes to operate up to 45km/hr with a nominal motor power of 350W was introduced (known as speed pedelec or S-pedelec) to align with standards in other countries but this has not been introduced as law
  • Some propose introduction of different classes for low-powered, medium-powered and high-powered ebikes with varying licence, registration and speed/power ranges
  • Remember that some bikes may be restricted to off-road use on private property only which could greatly restrict your enjoyment

Other requirements for e-bikes to comply with bicycle road rules and safety also apply. Always check your local laws but these are expected to include:

Helmets – wear an Australian Standard approved helmet complying with AS 2063 or AS/NZS 2063 unless carrying a doctor’s certificate stating you cannot wear a helmet or exempt on religious grounds which make it impractical to wear a helmet.

Equipment – at least 1 working brake and a working bell, horn or similar warning device

Lights – at night or in poor visibility, you must display a white light visible at least 200m from front of ebike. A red light which can be clearly seen at least 200m from rear of ebike. A red reflector that can be clearly seen at least 50m from behind when a vehicle’s headlights shine on it.

Operation – rules exist around the safe operation and use of transport infrastructure include bike lanes, roads and shared paths. Please check your local rules.

Electrical safety

Mandatory electrical safety compliance (declared item status) applies to any external mains powered battery charger that connects to the bicycle. The relevant standard for battery chargers is AS/NZS 60335.2.29 and all chargers should be accompanied by an electrical safety approval certificate.

EMC

The relevant ACMA EMC standard for RCM compliance covering motor driven devices is AS/NZS CISPR14.1.