eBike Safety Standards (NSW)
From February 2026, New South Wales is introducing strict new regulations for the manufacture, supply, and use of ebikes. The changes include reinstating import requirements, and introducing penalties for non-compliant e-bikes. This page outlines the ebike safety standards that are about to come into effect.
Legislation
The new regulations surrounding e-bikes can be found in the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017 and the Fair Trading Regulation 2019.
Prescribed safety standards
Under the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017, ebikes are classed as declared electrical articles. This means that they have to comply with prescribed safety standards in order to be available for sale.
The precise prescribed safety standards that e-bikes must comply with depend on what category of electric mobility device they are.
E‑bikes with less than 500 W power must comply with one of the following standards:
- AS 15194:2016 – Electrically power‑assisted cycles (pedelecs), limited to specific clauses;
- EN 15194:2017 + A1:2023 – European equivalent with similar clause limits;
- UL 2849:2022 – U.S. standard for electrical systems for e‑bikes.
E‑bikes with more than 500 W power must comply with UL 2849:2022 only.
E‑bike batteries must meet one of the following standards:
- EN 50604‑1:2016 + A1:2021 – light electric vehicle battery requirements;
- IEC 62133‑2:2017 – lithium‑ion battery safety requirements;
- UL 2271:2018/2023 – battery safety for light electric vehicle applications.
Each of these can be found through Standards Australia.
Penalties for non-compliance
The Gas and Electricity Consumer Safety Act 2017 contains a number of offences relating to non-compliance with the laws surrounding declared electrical articles.
Selling electrical article that does not meet standards
Under section 8 of the act, it is an offence to sell an electrical article that does not comply with the standard that applies.
Selling an electrical article that does not comply with the regulations
Under section 8(2) of the Act, it is an offence to sell and electrical article that does not comply with the requirements under the regulations. This includes selling an article that is not marked as required under the regulations, and selling an article that does not comply with the specifications for the article under the regulations.
The maximum penalty for both these offences for an individual is a fine of 500 penalty units (for a first offence) and a fine of 750 penalty units (for a subsequent offence).
The maximum penalty for the offence for a corporation is a fine of 5000 penalty units (for a first offence) and a fine 7500 penalty units (for a subsequent offence).
Failure to comply with notice
Under section 31 of the Act, it is an offence to fail to comply with a notice issued under the act. This includes a notice that prohibit the sale of an article, a notice that requires the testing of an article, and a notice that requires a person to take action in relation to an article.
The maximum penalty for this offence for an individual is a fine of 500 penalty units (for a first offence) and a fine of 750 penalty units (for a subsequent offence).
The maximum penalty for the offence for a corporation is a fine of 5000 penalty units (for a first offence) and a fine 7500 penalty units (for a subsequent offence).
Reasons for the changes
The ebike safety reforms were introduced because of safety concerns in relation to these devices, and the inadequacy of the existing regulation scheme. Many devices on the market, particularly cheaper ones, were unregulated and unsafe and the increased prevalence of lithium batteries was felt to pose a risk of lithium-ion fires.
The popularity of ebikes and the increase in their use, particularly among teenagers, had outpaced safety regulation, leading to injuries and public concern. There was a widespread feeling that consumers needed better information to use the devices safely.
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Fernanda Dahlstrom is a writer, editor and lawyer. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Latrobe University), a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (College of Law), a Bachelor of Arts (The University of Melbourne) and a Master of Arts (Deakin University). Fernanda practised law for eight years, working in criminal law, child protection and domestic violence law in the Northern Territory, and in family law in Queensland.