Should We Have Electric Bike Laws?
E-bike regulations have been established to protect people against any harm, whether they are walking on a street or riding a bicycle.
Some people might think that an electric bike is just a bicycle and that adding laws is harsh and unfair.
Nowadays, electric bikes are becoming faster, more efficient, and more affordable, which is attracting more people and, therefore, increasing the potential for accidents.
The quality, speed, and some of the newer features have changed the game in recent years. Some of these bikes can reach speeds comparable to those of entry-level scooters or gas-powered bikes.
Understanding the local standards would also help guide your decision-making process when buying an e-bike.
Table of Contents
Three Reasons to Have Electric Bike Laws
1. Reduced the number of accidents
Some people think that riding an e-bike is simple. You start pedalling, get the motor running, and off you go.
Yeah, all the above sounds about right, but the contributing factor to the increased number of accidents is overconfidence when reaching high speeds.
Taking off easier than usual and reaching the speed in less time makes people feel they can overtake slower cyclists and expose themselves to cars when changing lanes. At least, that is what I have felt sometimes!
So, why is having a license potentially important? Well, in case of an accident, you could be liable for any harm caused to third parties.
I don’t think a license would help avoid a bad traffic situation, but it would give the local regulators some reassurance that you know how to ride a powered bicycle.
2. E-bikes are not overpowered
When it comes to selecting an e-bike, most people want the most powerful one they can find. However, sometimes, it is not realistic to ride and manipulate high-rated motors like a 1000-watt one on most roads.
Eventually, people start to take bigger risks and also overload them when moving from one point to the other.
3. They will hold people accountable
The final aspect relates to the previous points, and the main reason for these laws is to hold people accountable.
In many countries, like the United States, kids and young adults could joyride with these bikes.
The individual could have a license and be held accountable if caught by a speed camera or involved in an accident.
Lastly, you know there are many alternatives to converting a conventional bicycle into an electric one (read our guide to find the most suitable kit for your bike).
Unfortunately, most people are unaware of their kits’ potential (in terms of maximum motor power) and are led to buy the wrong ones.
Many of these e-bike conversion kits can reach speeds of almost 50 mph (74km/h), so you need to have some skill.
It is frequent for users to be pulled over by police when spotting a converted bicycle because it could be quite obvious (high speed, unsafe parts, etc.).
E-Bike Laws in AU, U.S. and U.K.
I know there are so many regulations and differences in every country, but for now, these are the main rules for Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.
Australia (NSW, VIC, QLD, WA)
The Australian Vehicle Standards define an electric bike as any unit that has an auxiliary motor and that its power output does not exceed 250 watts.
Each State and Territory is responsible for enforcing these laws, and there are currently no licensing requirements that meet these Standards.
As per the CE EN15194 standard, the Australian government has added an additional category for the e-bike industry.
Long story short, this allows users to have a motor of 250-watts continuous power that can only be activated when peddling faster than 6km/h. Unfortunately for some, it must cut off when it goes faster than 25km/h.
E-Bike Rules NSW
According to the Transport for NSW Department (NSW Government), there are two types allowed: powered and electrically powered assisted.
The Powered assisted must:
- Motor output is no more than 200w.
- Weights less than 50 kg.
- The seat can be adjusted.
On the other hand, the electrically powered assisted must:
- Motor power output is no more than 500w.
- Speed cannot exceed 25km/h while the motor still assists the rider.
- If using a throttle option, the motor has to cut off after 25km/h or 6 km/h.
Read more: Transport for NSW Department (NSW Government)
Electric bike laws Vic
From my information reviewed, Vic Road established basically the same rules that are governed in NSW; however, the difference relates to the electrically powered-assisted bicycle, or EPAC, where the max power output of the motor is 250w.
Read more: Powered Assisted Bicycles Victoria, Australia
E-Bike Laws QLD
Again, in Queensland, the same rules apply as in NSW’s e-bike regulations. However, the type of assistance is not differentiated, and the motor has to cut power at 25 km/h.
Read more: electric bicycle rules QLD
E-Bike Rules WA
Western Australia has more information about what an e-bike is and what lands on this realm. Overall, they seem to dictate the same laws as NSW and Vic. The only difference is that they call them asi Powered Assisted Pedal Cycles (PAPC).
Read More: Western Australia Department of Transport
Electric bike laws California (U.S.)
When looking at the laws in the United States, we have found that they are a little less strict.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Act has defined electric bikes as:
- Bicycle or tricycle vehicle that is operated by pedals and a motor.
- Should not exceed 15 mph, and
- the motor should not produce more than 750 watts of power.
Any e-bike exceeding these specifications will be considered a motorcycle, therefore breaking the law.
Much like in Australia, the laws that govern the specs and features of an e-bike are determined State by State.
Depending on where you live, you might have fewer or more requirements to ride these around.
Whilst doing the research, we also found that in certain States, you can even reach speeds of 30 mph. But some others, like Alabama, for example, will require a license to ride one of these e-bicycles.
Even entry-level ones can be defined as motorcycles by certain State laws.
In contrast, California has placed its standard under the CA State AB1096, which requires that any motorized bicycle is under 750w of motor power and is within one of these three (3) classifications:
- C1: assists up to 20 mph.
- C2: has a throttle feature and cuts off the assistance at 20 mph.
- C3: assists up to 28 mph and cuts off at that speed.
Anything beyond that assisted level will be out of the classification and, therefore, will require a proper license to operate.
All in all, if you want further advice, we recommend that you visit or phone your local county police department or the Department of Motor Vehicles to learn more about the governing laws and ensure that your bicycle adheres to them.
The European Union e-Cycle regulation
The European Union governs the definitions and some of the rules regarding electric bikes across Europe.
Nevertheless, each country has individual laws that might be slightly more forgiving than some of the overall E.U. requirements.
The E.U. directive 2002/24/EC defines an electric bike as a pedal-assisted bicycle with an auxiliary motor that can:
- Produce a maximum power output of 250 watts.
- The power output will incrementally reduce as the bike improves in speed, and
- It should be cut out when the bike reaches a maximum speed of 15.1 mph (again, 25 km/h) and when the cyclist stops pedaling.
While each E.U. country will have its own rules and regulations, almost every one has one thing in common: the maximum power output.
When looking at the bulk of these e-cycle rules, we have noted that the output is 250 watts.
The United Kingdom Anomaly
We cannot leave out the United Kingdom as e-bikes are extremely popular in this country.
The U.K. has almost the same laws as the European Union, but it does have a weight limit of 30kg. It also specifies that riders must be at least 14 years old to ride these electric bikes.
This is good news for manufacturers that want to produce more electric dirt bikes for kids, which are becoming popular for their extreme fun.
Read More: Electric Dirt Bike For Kids: Are They Any Good?
Electric Bike Laws Wrap-Up
It is clear that there are plenty of e-cycle regulations governing every country, and some of them have a slightly different requirement.
Nonetheless, we can conclude that a common factor is the top speed at which the motor should be off (25km/h—15 mph).
Our perspective is that having laws to control not only users but also manufacturers will keep most people safe when operating them in open spaces.
I recommend familiarizing with any regulations in your country and State to ensure you don’t get hit with any fines.
All in all, we believe that these electric bike laws should be equal in all countries, so people can have access to models that are more appealing both from a looks and a need perspective.
