Electric Bikes to Increase from 200Watts to 250Watts in Australia

On Wednesday the 30^th of May, the Parliamentary Secretary of Infrastructure and Transport, The Hon Catherine King MP, announced that the federal government will be adopting an addition to the electric bicycle design rules (please find announcement below).

The definition of a power-assisted pedal cycle was “a pedal cycle to which is attached one or more auxiliary propulsion motors having a combined maximum power output not exceeding 200 watts.”

The current ADR definition of AB category has now been expanded to allow compliance with the full EN 15194 standard as an option. 

The wording in the ADR definition has been changed to “a pedal cycle to which is attached one or more auxiliary propulsion motors having a combined maximum power not exceeding 200 watts or a Pedalec”.  

Pedalec has been separately defined as “a vehicle meeting European Committee for Standardization EN 15194:2009  Cycles - Electrically power assisted cycles - EPAC Bicycles”.

Main changes of the PEDALEC to the current definition are;

• Max 250watt
• Pedal assist – must be pedalling to gain power assistance
• Top speed 25kmh (assisted)
• 6kmh twist and go (to assist in getting off the line)

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

·   Electric bicycles which meet the former design rules can still be imported, sold and used on Australian roads without requiring the bike to be registered.

·   Electric bicycles which meet the European standard (EN 15194) can now be imported into Australia (and will be able to be used without requiring registration).

USE OF THESE BIKES ON AUSTRALIAN ROADS.

·   Each Australian state or territory must now pass changes to their road laws to allow PEDALEC’s to be legally used on public roads as a bicycle.

·   Feedback gained from states is that this process is expected to take between 6 and 12 months (some may be quicker but were unwilling to confirm that).

The BIA is currently formally contacting all states and territories to try to gain more definitive timetables.

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