The federal government has announced a nationwide crackdown on high-powered electric bikes, directing the consumer watchdog to develop a new national safety standard that will cap the speed and power of e-micromobility devices sold or imported into Australia. The move, announced on Thursday, is aimed squarely at reducing serious injuries and deaths linked to dangerous e-bikes on Australian roads and paths.
What the New E-Bike Safety Standard Will Require
The government has tasked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) with developing a national standard covering e-bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards. The standard will be based on an existing international benchmark known as EN-15194, which mandates that a bike's motor disengage once it reaches 25km/h and limits motor output to a maximum of 250 watts.
In announcing the measure, the government said it was "drawing a firm line against high-powered, high-speed devices linked to serious injuries and deaths, including children." The standard will apply to devices at the point of sale and importation, meaning non-compliant products will not be permitted to enter the Australian market.
For more detail on what these changes mean for riders around the country, see our earlier coverage: Australia's nationwide e-bike crackdown and what the new safety standards mean for riders.
Minister Defends the Crackdown as a Community Safety Priority
Assistant Competition Minister Andrew Leigh described the standard as an "important reform" for both e-bike riders and the wider public. Speaking publicly about the announcement, Leigh acknowledged the genuine benefits of electric bikes while drawing a clear line at unregulated, high-powered models.
"E-bikes are a great addition to our transport network, reducing congestion, allowing people to enjoy the great outdoors," Leigh said. "But we've got these high-powered e-bikes that are causing accidents and even deaths on our roads. We need to crack down on those."
Leigh also highlighted that the new standard would address the ease with which some current e-bikes can be modified to exceed safe speed and power limits. "This new safety standard will ensure that people can't be riding those super-fast bikes, high-powered bikes or bikes that are easily modified," he said.
States and Territories to Be Brought Into Line
When questioned about the significant number of non-compliant e-bikes already in use across Australia, Minister Leigh confirmed the federal government is actively working alongside state and territory governments to address the problem on both fronts.
"We're addressing both sides of the challenge," he said. The approach involves not only regulating what comes into the market but also ensuring that enforcement authorities across jurisdictions are operating under a consistent set of rules when policing e-bike use on public roads and paths.
The announcement reflects a broader pattern of federal government intervention on consumer safety issues that have drawn growing public concern. With the ACCC now tasked with formalising the standard, Australians can expect further detail on timelines and enforcement mechanisms in the coming months.
