The statement from the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ meeting: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/itmm-communique-21-november-2025.pdf
The same statement from WeRide on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/werideaustralia/posts/pfbid0KpgL2Xxi54XVQNk557nVm9SXCFwVvtu6VtW7GbMSDcCRkwYKh2imTuAFSRfAni65l
The statement in text:
We celebrate reinstatement of e-bike standard
In a welcome announcement celebrated by bicycle riders and the industry this afternoon, the Australian Infrastructure and Transport Ministers have announced the reinstatement of the internationally accepted standard for e-bikes.
The announcement came in the Ministerial Communique this afternoon and states,
‘Ministers agreed to work towards a regulatory framework for e-mobility devices to ensure safe and consistent supply and use of these devices in the Australian market, while still promoting mobility and innovation.’
A framework is still being developed, however in the interim, the Communique says,
‘To supplement this (new framework), and to assist importers, the Commonwealth will reinstate the EN-15194 standard and meet with relevant stakeholders to ensure the use of this standard is well understood and supported.’
We Ride Australia and Bicycle Industries Australia could not be happier that this global standard has been reinstated after it was deleted from the import framework governing e-bikes in 2021.
This announcement responds directly to the advocacy of calls from Bicycle Industries Austra, We Ride Australia and Australian bicycle organisations which has been determinant in achieving this outcome. We look forward to continuing to assist Governments at all levels as they work to establish a robust national framework to stop unsafe product reaching Australian consumers.
BIA General Manager Peter Bourke said,
“This is a sensational outcome for the Australian bicycle industry,
“EN15194 is the leading e-bike standard around the world, and its reinstatement will address the impacts of poor-quality and unsafe imports.”
WeRide’s Stephen Hodge said,
“e-bikes are booming globally,
“They provide healthy, safe and affordable mobility for the more than half of all trips each day that are less than 5km,
“The reinstatement of EN15194 means Australians will have the confidence to know the e-bikes they buy for themselves, and their children are safe and fit for purpose.”
To be very clear: the case study I provided is on an exceptionally steep hill. Very few people need to climb something this steep, ever. The 350 W you get from a currently-legal ebike plus a lazy casual amount from the legs (I’m seeing varying numbers, but every number I’m seeing suggests that even a slow walk on foot uses significantly more than 100 W). And on a non-cargo bike, the sorts of normal hills many people climb every day on their daily commute can easily be climbed at a good pace at 350 W. Heck, at 300 W, even.
It’s not about investment, it’s about ensuring the power numbers stay low enough to reduce the potential for abuse. It’s got nothing to do with purity, and nor did anything I say provide even the vaguest implication that “purity” has anything to do with it. If it was about purity, I wouldn’t be starting from the standpoint of assuming 70% of the power is coming from the motor, or using 100 W as my presumptive minimum even when climbing. I wouldn’t have provided the evidence with data for why even for people who don’t want to put in a lot of effort don’t actually need that much power, and explained how the fact that my rides do contain more power are precisely because they’re an outlier.