The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has opened public consultation on whether e-bikes sold in Australia should have to meet a mandatory safety standard. The consultation opened on 30 October and submissions close on Monday 30 November 2026.
It is the first formal step toward a national rule for what can be sold, rather than what can be ridden. Until now the e-bike crackdown has been run state by state through road rules, police seizures and fines. A standard made under the Australian Consumer Law would apply to suppliers, which means the shop and the importer, not just the rider.
What the ACCC is proposing
The ACCC has published a consultation paper that sets out the safety problem, its policy objectives and a proposal to introduce an Australian Consumer Law safety standard for e-bikes. On its product safety site, the regulator says a standard could cover more than the bikes themselves.
- Products in scope could include e-bikes, e-bike conversion kits, tampering devices, and e-bike batteries and chargers
- A standard may set minimum requirements for maximum motor power output and maximum power assisted speed
- It may include anti tampering provisions, aimed at bikes and kits that can be unlocked to go faster
- It may require products to meet existing technical standards. The ACCC names EN 15194, the European e-bike standard, which Queensland and Western Australia already require for riding in public
The ACCC says most states and territories only allow e-bikes in public with a motor of no more than 250 W continuous rated power that assists up to 25 km/h, yet e-bikes with motors upwards of 1000 W assisting to speeds upwards of 50 km/h are increasingly being used in public. It also points to property damage from fires, mostly linked to high capacity, low quality, unbranded or non compatible lithium ion batteries.
What happens next
After the consultation closes, the ACCC will review submissions and may consult again. Feedback will inform a recommendation to the federal Minister, which the ACCC says may be prepared in early 2027. If the Minister makes a mandatory standard, the ACCC says suppliers may be required to comply immediately.
The work follows the federal government's May 2026 announcement of funding for the ACCC to develop nationally consistent safety standards for e-micromobility devices. E-bikes come first, with e-scooters and other devices to follow.
What it means for buyers
Nothing changes on the day you read this. The consultation does not make any bike illegal, and state road rules still decide where and what you can ride. But the direction is clear: a national standard would push non compliant machines out of shops and import channels, and a bike bought today that cannot meet EN 15194 is likely to be harder to sell, insure and ride legally over the next few years.
- If you are buying now, choose a bike with a 250 W continuous rated motor that cuts assistance at 25 km/h, and ask the seller to show EN 15194 certification, not just a sticker
- Be wary of bikes sold with an 'off road mode' or an unlock code. Tampering devices are explicitly named in the scope of this review
- Buy batteries and chargers matched to your bike from the original brand or a reputable supplier. Batteries and chargers are also in scope
- Anyone can make a submission, including riders, parents, shops and community groups. The ACCC prefers responses through its online survey, which it says takes about 30 minutes
Sources
- ACCC Consultation Hub, Policy options for e-bike safety (opened 30 October 2026, closes 30 November 2026)
- ACCC Product Safety, E-bikes, e-scooters and other e-micromobility devices
Consultation dates, scope, the policy options under review, the power and speed figures and the timing of a ministerial recommendation are as published by the ACCC, current as at 4 November 2026. No standard has been made and no requirements are final. Photo: ABC News, Ashlin Blieschke.