December 1 - 31, 2025: Issue 649

 

Maximum legal power output of e-bikes in NSW to be reduced to 250 watts - Federal Government reinstating EN-15194 standard: Scamps Welcomes changes, Scruby calls for NSW to lead with e-bike licensing and registration

There has been growing concern nationally due to an increase in the use of high powered e-bikes travelling at speeds in excess of what is legally allowed and the growing number of crashes and deaths that has resulted from this. This concern includes use of non-road legal e-bikes (or unroadworthy motorbikes) and concerns around the increase in battery fires.

At the  Transport Ministers Meeting held November 21 2025 it was announced the internationally accepted standard for e-bikes will be reinstated.


The announcement in the Ministerial Communique states;

‘Ministers agreed to work towards a regulatory framework for e-mobility devices to ensure safe and consistent supply and use of these devices in the Australian market, while still promoting mobility and innovation.’

A framework is still being developed, however in the interim, the Communique says;

‘To supplement this (new framework), and to assist importers, the Commonwealth will reinstate the EN-15194 standard and meet with relevant stakeholders to ensure the use of this standard is well understood and supported.’ the Communique states

'Ministers will receive an update on development of the Framework at the first ITMM meeting of 2026, noting ongoing public enquiries in WA and QLD.'

To back that up, on December 2 2025, the NSW Government announced it will move to reduce the maximum legal power output of e-bikes in NSW to 250 watts, bringing the state back into line with all other Australian jurisdictions.

This reverses a previous regulatory change that increased the power limit to 500 watts, which has contributed to a wave of high-powered bikes that can be unsafe for children and difficult for parents and police to identify.

The changes come atop Independents Mackellar MP Dr. Sophie Scamps and Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby calling for well-overdue reform to ensure e-bikes are safe, fit-for-purpose, and regulated under federal and state law and the council initiating an e-bike safety campaign to address residents concerns in May 2024.

Dr. Scamps introduced the Safer E-Bikes Bill 2025 (Road Vehicle Standards Amendment) to Parliament on Monday September 1, while Jacqui Scruby has tabled a motion on introducing a similar Bill to the NSW Parliament.

'The change is aimed at keeping kids safer on roads, bike paths and local streets by reducing access to devices that behave more like electric motorbikes than pedal-assisted bicycles.' the NSW government said

The NSW Government is also reviewing the definition of an e-bike in road rules to close loopholes that allow motorcycle-level devices to be sold and ridden as though they are bicycles.

These state changes complement national action. The Commonwealth Government has now committed to reinstating import requirements that ensure e-bikes sold in Australia meet the European safety and quality standard, EN 15194.

'This will help keep low-quality, easily modified and dangerous devices out of the country.' the statement reads

The updated rules are expected to take effect within months and will be done in consultation with retailers and the community to ensure a fair transition.

Parents buying an e-bike this Christmas are encouraged to look for:

  • A clear EN 15194 sticker or certification
  • A motor output of no more than 250 watts
  • A reputable brand with proper safety documentation
  • A model that has not been modified, “chipped,” or had its speed limiter removed

The Government is also urging parents to talk to their kids about responsible riding: wearing a helmet, not carrying passengers, sticking to bike paths and roads where permitted, and never modifying a device to go faster.

These changes form part of a broader effort to improve safety around e-devices, including new laws introduced to regulate shared e-bike schemes, clean up footpath clutter and ensure shared scheme operators meet strict safety standards.

NSW Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“E-bikes are fantastic for getting kids outside, active and independent but they need to be safe.

“We’re seeing devices on the market that are far too powerful, too easy to modify and too hard for parents to assess.

“This is about making sure the bike your teenager rides behaves like a bike, not a motorbike.

“Our message to parents is simple: check the sticker, check the wattage, and have a conversation with your kids about staying safe.”

Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:

“Nothing matters more than keeping our kids safe. As more young people jump on e-bikes, we need to make sure every device on our roads and footpaths is safe, legal and fit for purpose.

“Right now we’re seeing too many powerful, modified devices that put riders and everyone around them at risk. These changes are about preventing serious injuries before they happen.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility. Government is tightening standards and cleaning up unsafe behaviour, but we need retailers, parents and riders to help keep our communities safe.”

Mackellar MP Welcomes Commonwealth Government Changes

Member for Mackellar, Dr Sophie Scamps MP, stated she welcomes the Federal Government’s commitment to reinstating a national importation standard for e-bikes - a key reform in line with the member’s recent Safer E-Bikes Private Member’s Bill.

“In response to deep community concerns, I’ve been calling for clear national safety standards to better protect both riders and pedestrians.

“There has been a glaring federal loophole, so this is good news that the Government is finally moving to close it,” Dr Scamps said.

The decision, endorsed at the latest Australian Infrastructure and Transport Ministers Meeting and strongly supported by the bicycle industry, will bring Australia’s import rules into line with the European standard (EN-15194).

Under the strengthened standard, e-bikes must be limited to 25 km/h, capped at 250 watts, and protected by an anti-tampering requirement.

“This is a major step forward after growing concern about unsafe, high-powered e-bikes being imported and sold with almost no oversight.

“I’ve been working hard to make sure we don’t have preventable tragedies in our community, particularly with the summer school holidays upon us and inevitable increased e-bike use.

“We now need to work towards greater awareness and ensure safety standards are properly understood and enforced,” Dr Scamps shared.

Dr Scamps is also calling on the Federal Government to confirm the commencement timeline and implement these changes without delay to better protect lives over the Summer holidays. 

Jacqui Scruby MP calls for NSW to lead with e-bike licensing and registration

Independent Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby is calling for the NSW Government to tackle e-bike safety with comprehensive reforms, including education, licensing, registration and insurance. 

“This week’s state and federal announcements on e-bike regulations are small but significant steps towards a long term solution. But let’s not kid ourselves, these measures will take time and rely on federal resourcing of border controls to stop illegal or potentially illegal bikes being imported.”

“In the meantime, changing NSW legislation to cap e-bikes at 250W instead of 500W isn’t going to fix the problems we are currently facing. Let’s be realistic - we already have 600,000 e-bikes. This includes many 1000W bikes bought as ‘offroad’ being driven onroad, and 500W bikes that are unlocked and being ridden illegally, exceeding speed limits. 

“We need to tackle rider responsibility, rider education and enforcement if we want to tackle e-bike safety. Parents, riders and pedestrians all want safe streets. While the NSW Government’s decision-  to reverse the previous government’s decision to allow 500W bikes and align with other states - is a step in the right direction, it doesn’t go far enough.

“NSW should lead the way with e-bike licensing and registration. Like a boat licence, an e-bike licence should require riders to undertake licencing and registration. This is the only way to ensure accountability and help enforcement, together with insurance to protect those who are injured in an accident.” 

Ms Scruby welcomed grandfathering of the NSW wattage cap, but slammed the government for springing this reform on local shopfront retailers who will be left with stock they can’t sell.

“Reform needs to ensure that small business retailers don’t have their business decimated by regulatory change and that physical stores aren’t unfairly targeted. I have a responsible retailer in my electorate and this latest announcement warning parents not to buy a 500W bike leaves him with a shop full of stock without purchasers.”

Ms Scruby also noted that illegal e-bike use, like so many issues in Pittwater, is the result of failed Liberal Policy. 

“Rob Stokes made NSW the only state with a 500W definition and Barnaby Joyce allowed illegal bikes to be imported into Australia. It’s very welcome that these failed policies are now being reversed, but the cat is out of the bag and reforms will need enforcement to be effective.”

We Ride Australia and Bicycle Industries Australia have stated they could not be happier that this global standard has been reinstated after it was deleted from the import framework governing e-bikes in 2021.

This announcement responds directly to the advocacy of calls from Bicycle Industries Australia, We Ride Australia and Australian bicycle organisations which has been determinant in achieving this outcome, they said.

'We look forward to continuing to assist Governments at all levels as they work to establish a robust national framework to stop unsafe product reaching Australian consumers.'

BIA General Manager said,

“This is a sensational outcome for the Australian bicycle industry,

“EN15194 is the leading e-bike standard around the world, and its reinstatement will address the impacts of poor-quality and unsafe imports.”

WeRide’s Stephen Hodge said,

“e-bikes are booming globally,

“They provide healthy, safe and affordable mobility for the more than half of all trips each day that are less than 5km,

“The reinstatement of EN15194 means Australians will have the confidence to know the e-bikes they buy for themselves, and their children are safe and fit for purpose.”

A chronology of Australian e-bike standards and legislation

2012

  • Then Parliamentary Secretary Catherine King adopts the leading global e-bike standard EN15194 as the national standard that e-bikes must meet to be imported and sold in Australia. National road regulations are developed by the National Transport Commission, but individual states determine and govern local Road Vehicle Standards and Road Rules regulations.

2017

  • It takes years for this standard to be adopted by all states and territories, but this process is finally completed in 2017, with NSW the last state jurisdiction to include EN15194 in legislation across all departments.

2021

  • The federal government removes Pedalec and the globally recognised EN15194 from the definition of an e-bike and amends to a simpler definition as an ‘electrically power-assisted cycle’ (an ‘EPAC’) that must have a continuous rated power of 250W, maximum pedal-assisted speed of 25kph and max throttle-only use up to 6kph. Unlike EN15194, the new definition has no ‘anti-tampering’ clause, which prevents illegal after-market modification and the dangerous high speeds causing the casualties in our communities.
  • The Government also removes the PEDALEC from the definition of a ‘Road Vehicle.’ The importation of road vehicles are only allowed for declared vehicles that conform to Australian Design Rules. The negative flow-on impact for Australian users is that EPACs are now only subject to a voluntary Dept of Infrastructure and Transport requirement for declaration that they meet the new definition of an e-bike (under the ‘ROVER’ platform). This has resulted in a tsunami of e-bike imports that are not tracked or declared and for which there is no declaration of conformity to the new standard.
  • There was no consultation with, or prior notice to, the bicycle industry prior to adoption of this amendment.

2023 – 25

  • Battery fires raise Emergency Services concerns for safety with increasing numbers of thermal runaway fires and the death of 2 people in a house fire allegedly caused by an e-device battery. NSW Fire & Rescue releases a study of Lithium-ion Battery Incidents.
  • Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia all conduct Parliamentary Inquiries in e-rideables/e-scooters/e-bikes. NSW and Victorian public transport operators announce e-bike bans on trains and some public transport.
  • NSW Government announces new regulations for sale of conforming e-bikes that result in all major brands selling e-bikes considering exiting the market. Cycle tourism operators in NSW with fleets of e-bikes consider ceasing operations.
  • Increasing incidents of casualties and dangerous riding of high speed, illegal e-bikes result in significant policing concerns nationally, NSW and VIC Police forces conduct enforcement operations to educate and issue infractions where appropriate. A Victorian Coroners Report is published in July 2025 following the death in January 2024 of an e-bike rider.
  • Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian Transport Ministers write to the federal Government seeking action to control the importation of illegal e-bikes and updates to safety standards.
  • The EN15194 addresses all aspects of e-bike power and safety standards and should be re-instated as the default national standard for all e-bikes imported into this country.

Related:

Communique for Infrastructure and Transport Minister’s Meeting – Friday 21 November 2025