The NSW government has announced “measured and staged reforms aimed at improving safety for riders, pedestrians and the wider community”.
These changes include:
A power output enforcement has been introduced from this month, while a minimum age requirement for riders is also currently being explored.
e-bikes must now meet the EU standard (EN 15194), so they behave like a bicycle rather than a motorbike.
This means e-bikes must now have a maximum power output of 250 watts, and pedal assistance has to cut out at 25km/h.
Additionally, no non-pedalling assistance (with a manual throttle) can be provided above 6km/h.
The government says the new standards also includes battery, electrical, and fire-safety requirements, as well as anti-tampering protections to prevent the alteration of power or speed limiting software.