Cycling

NSW introduces new standards for lithium-ion batteries to address e-mobility safety

From February 2025 and micromobility 'devices' including e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards, self-balancing scooters with lithium-ion batteries will be called 'notified electrical appliances' and governed by the Gas and Electricity (Consumer. Safety) Act 2017 in NSW. By doing this it creates a strong framework for compliance with the safety standards required to be sold legally.

The change follows the New South Wales Coroners Court which reported 275 fires and 26 injuries and 876 evacuations in 2024. A coroner launched an inquiry and there was a parliamentary inquiry which overturned the law. Videos or exploding batteries have also appeared increasingly in Australian and international media.

Most of the reputable brand name bikes strictly comply with the standards and are less prone to accidents. Although no statistics are available, indications are that DIY and budget-level bikes are at a higher risk of failure and burnout. In Australia a number of unscrupulous operators import and sell low quality bikes and batteries available from reputable suppliers. Similarly, supermarkets that sell budget sports equipment may compromise on quality and safety in order to save costs and maintain prices.

“Enforcement” of the new standards begins in NSW in February 2025 and by August 2025 mandatory testing and certification requirements will be implemented. February 2026 Mandatory labeling requirement is implemented. In practice, compliance requirements for batteries and mobility devices are becoming more stringent and therefore seek to ban unregulated and 'loosely compliant' equipment.

Across Australia, states and territories are still playing 'catch-up' to create road use and safety regulations for e-devices, especially e-scooters. This delay has allowed some operators to take advantage of the gaps and import cheap and unsafe equipment that is often in the budget price range.

With the change in legislation for the general compliance and safety of lithium-ion batteries, NSW is leading and advocating Australia-wide adoption of these regulations from other states and territories.

The bicycle trade association, Bicycle Industries Australia is providing information to member businesses and is running a webinar with the NSW Office of Fair Trading to cover open questions. An important topic in the bicycle trade is the status of bicycles in stock that are no longer compliant or require certification.

More information on the new standards:
NSW Government: New standards for lithium-ion batteries in micromobility devices


New Bicycle Safety Standards ee

For bicycles with a maximum rated continuous output not exceeding 500 watts:

  • AS 15194:2016- Cycles – Electric-assisted cycles – EPAC bicycles (also known as pedelecs), or
  • TS EN 15194:2017+A1:2023 – Cycles – Electrically assisted cycles – EPAC bicycles, or
  • UL 2849 – Electrical systems for eBikes

For bikes with a maximum rated continuous output exceeding 500 watts:

  • UL 2849 – Electrical systems for eBikes

New Safety Standards for bike batteries

  • TS EN 50604-1:2016+A1:2021 – Secondary lithium batteries for EV (electric vehicle) lighting applications, or
  • IEC 62133-2:2017 Secondary cells and batteries containing alkaline or other non-acidic electrolytes – Safety requirements for sealed secondary cells, and batteries made from them, for use in portable applications – Part 2: Lithium systems, or
  • UL 2271 – Batteries for use in light electric vehicles (LEV).

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