E-bikes caused 193 fires between 2022 and 2025, with the rate of fires caused by these devices increasing each year according to Fire and Rescue NSW data.
The State Government is tackling this by introducing new safety standards for e-micromobility vehicles (e-bikes and e-scooters).
The aim is to reduce the risks, which are increasingly being linked to fires, of e-bikes that are built with low quality components or are charged incorrectly.
Stage one of these safety standards came into effect on February 1 which ensures retailers and manufacturers can only sell e-micromobility devices in NSW with components that comply with the newly prescribed safety standards.
Throughout the year, NSW Fair Trading will be conducting education-focussed compliance activities to ensure traders know their responsibilities under the new rules.
Compliance officers will start the first phase of education-focussed compliance activities from February 24.
The next stage of these safety standards comes into effect in August this year with a focus on mandatory testing and certification.
Mandatory labeling requirements follow this and come into effect in February next year.
Businesses selling non-compliant e-bikes could be fined up to $825,000 if the safety standards are not followed.
More information is available here.
To complement the safety standards a new Australian-first information standard for e-micromobility vehicles will be used from August 1.
Information Standards regulate what guidance and warnings are provided to consumers about goods and services.
The new information standard will cover product safety information, fire safety and emergency procedures, product end-of-life and storage, as well as electrical safety and advice on road rules.
Retailers and companies that don’t comply by providing the required information at point of sale could be fined up to $5500 for each breach.
NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Natasha Mann said, “We know poorly designed and built lithium-ion batteries present a real and potentially life-threatening risk to consumers, contributing to more than one fire per week across NSW.”
FRNSW Commissioner Jeremy Fewtrell welcomed the safety standards.
“Three people have died within the last 12 months in NSW from fires involving lithium-ion battery-powered bikes,” he said.
This information was provided by the NSW Government.
