Updated 27 August 2026. Queensland's e-mobility reforms are now law. This article explains what the EN15194 standard is, how its version numbers work, and what the final legislation means for your e-bike — including the grandfathering protection we hoped to see. For the full rundown of speed limits, throttle rules, and licensing requirements, read Queensland's E-Bike Law Has Now Passed.
If you own a legal, compliant 250W pedal-assist e-bike in Queensland, you may have seen headlines about a new standard requirement. The good news: the outcome is settled, and it's a good one for existing owners. Understanding why requires a quick look at the standard's history — and how the version numbers actually work.
The core definition of a legal e-bike has not changed and does not change with this update. A 250W, 25 km/h pedal-assist bicycle is still a legal e-bike. Here's what you need to know about EN15194, and what the passed legislation means for your bike.
What Is EN15194? The Standard That Defines a Legal E-Bike
EN15194 is the European product safety standard for Electrically Power-Assisted Cycles (EPACs). It's the internationally recognised benchmark for what legally counts as an e-bike — as opposed to an illegal high-powered electric motorbike. In Australia, EN15194 was formally introduced in 2014 as the reference standard for e-bike importation and sale, and was reinstated into the Australian Design Rules in late 2025 following a spike in illegal high-powered devices on the market.
Under EN15194, a legal e-bike is defined by three core criteria:
- • Maximum continuous motor power: 250 watts
- • Maximum assisted speed: 25 km/h (motor assistance cuts out above this speed)
- • Power assistance only while pedalling (pedal-assist only — no throttle-only operation beyond a 6 km/h start-assist aid)
These three criteria separate a legal e-bike from an illegal high-powered electric motorbike, which can exceed 100 km/h and requires no pedalling. That distinction sits at the heart of Queensland's e-mobility laws.
All Bosch-powered electric bikes we stock meet the EN15194 250W/25km/h/pedal-assist definition — if you're unsure whether a specific bike qualifies, our team can confirm its certification on the spot.
The Complete EN15194 Timeline
2009 — EN15194:2009 (First Edition)
The original European standard for electric pedal-assist bicycles is published. It establishes the core definition that still holds today: 250W motor, 25 km/h assist cut-off, pedal-assist only. Australia begins using this standard as an informal reference for e-bike compliance.
2011 — EN15194:2009+A1:2011 (First Amendment)
A minor amendment to the 2009 standard. No change to the 250W/25 km/h core definition. Bikes certified to this version remain compliant under the updated text.
2014 — Australia Formally Adopts EN15194
The Commonwealth formally recognises EN15194 as the reference standard for e-bike importation and sale. Australian Road Rules align with the 250W/25 km/h definition, enabling the local e-bike industry to grow and invest with confidence.
2017 — EN15194:2017 (Second Edition)
A major structural and technical update, mandatory in the EU from April 2018. The 250W/25 km/h core definition is unchanged. Key updates include stricter electromagnetic compatibility requirements, updated test methods, more detailed electrical safety specifications, and mandatory alignment with EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC for EU market entry. Virtually all e-bikes sold in Australia from 2018 onwards are certified to EN15194:2017.
22 August 2022 — Amendment 1 Approved by CEN
The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) approves Amendment 1 to EN15194:2017. The amendment has one substantive technical change: battery testing requirements. Previously, batteries could comply with either EN 62133-2 (a general lithium-ion battery standard) or EN 50604-1 (an e-bike-specific battery standard). The amendment requires EN 50604-1 only for new products.
August 2023 — EN15194:2017+A1:2023 Published
The combined standard is formally published as EN15194:2017+A1:2023. The 250W/25 km/h definition remains completely unchanged. As confirmed by the standard's own text, it does not apply retroactively to EPACs manufactured before its publication.
15 May 2026 — EU Transition Period Closes
The transition period between the old and new battery-testing requirement closes in Europe. From this date, only EN15194:2017+A1:2023 may be referenced for new EU product certification. This has no direct effect on bikes already on the market anywhere, including Queensland.
4 June 2026 — Queensland's E-Mobility Bill Passes, With EN15194 Grandfathering Written Into Law
After an extensive public consultation process — including a parliamentary committee report that reviewed submissions from riders, retailers, disability advocates, and industry bodies — the Transport and Other Legislation (Managing E-mobility Use and Protecting Our Communities) Amendment Bill 2026 passes. Critically, it includes the "manufactured version" grandfathering principle: an e-bike's EN15194 compliance is assessed against the version of the standard that was in force when the bike was built, not whatever version happens to be current. This is the fix we hoped to see when we first covered this issue — see below for what it means in practice.
1 July 2026 — New Laws Commence
The bulk of the new e-mobility rules take effect, with a transition period for compliance labelling running through to 28 February 2027.
How EN15194's Version Numbers and Lettering Work
If you've seen references to "EN15194:2017+A1:2023" and wondered what all the extra letters and numbers mean, here's the plain-language guide:
EN [standard number]:[edition year]+A[amendment number]:[amendment year]
- • The number after the first colon is the edition year — the year a substantially revised version of the standard was published (2009, then 2017).
- • "+A1", "+A2" and so on refer to amendments — smaller updates layered on top of an edition, numbered in sequence as CEN (the European Committee for Standardisation) approves them.
- • The year after the amendment number is when that specific amendment was published.
So EN15194:2017+A1:2023 reads as: the 2017 edition, plus its first amendment, published in 2023. You may also see a standard referenced with a "pr" prefix (e.g. EN15194:2017/prA2) — that's shorthand for a draft amendment still going through CEN's approval process, not yet in force.
This is a standard that evolves, and that's normal. CEN periodically issues amendments as testing methods and safety data improve — the +A1:2023 amendment was a battery-testing update, and draft work on a further amendment has circulated in the past. None of this changes the core 250W/25 km/h/pedal-assist definition that has held since 2009. And because Queensland's grandfathering principle assesses your bike against the standard in force when it was built, future amendments won't retroactively affect a bike you already own — they only apply to new stock certified going forward.
What the Grandfathering Principle Means for You
This is the practical answer to "is my e-bike still legal": yes, if it was legal when you bought it.
If you purchased a fully compliant 250W pedal-assist e-bike under the rules in place at the time — including any bike certified to EN15194:2017 without the +A1:2023 battery amendment, which describes the overwhelming majority of e-bikes sold in Australia before mid-2025 — your bike remains legal under Queensland's 2026 laws. You do not need to have your bike retested, relabelled, or replaced because a newer amendment of EN15194 has since been published.
What you do need, by 28 February 2027, is a compliance label confirming your bike meets the version of EN15194 that applied when it was manufactured. Most e-bikes sold through reputable retailers already carry this from the manufacturer. If yours doesn't, the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) is working with Bicycle Industries Australia on an assurance scheme to verify and label currently-compliant bikes that are missing the paperwork — full guidance is being published progressively at streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EN15194 standard for electric bikes in Australia?
EN15194 is the European product safety standard for Electrically Power-Assisted Cycles (EPACs), and it's the standard Australia uses to define a legal e-bike. It requires a maximum continuous motor power of 250 watts, motor assistance that cuts out at 25 km/h, and power assistance only while pedalling. Australia formally adopted EN15194 in 2014, and it was reinstated into the Australian Design Rules in late 2025.
What does the lettering in EN15194:2017+A1:2023 mean?
The format is EN [standard number]:[edition year]+A[amendment number]:[amendment year]. EN15194:2017 is the second edition of the standard, published in 2017. +A1:2023 means Amendment 1, published in 2023 — in this case a battery-testing update only, requiring EN 50604-1 certification. The core 250W/25km/h/pedal-assist definition has not changed in any version since 2009.
Will future amendments to EN15194 make my current e-bike illegal?
No. Under Queensland's 2026 e-mobility laws, e-bikes are assessed against the version of EN15194 that was in force when the bike was manufactured, not the version current today. This grandfathering principle means a bike legally compliant at the time of sale stays legal even as the standard is periodically amended.
Browse Our EN15194-Compliant Range
We stock a carefully curated range of EN15194-compliant e-bikes suited to Queensland conditions, from everyday commuters to cargo and recreational models. Every bike we sell comes with full compliance documentation, and our team can confirm exactly which version of EN15194 your bike (new or existing) is certified to.
We raised the EN15194 grandfathering issue in this article back when the legislation was still in draft — it's the outcome we hoped to see, and it made it into the final law. Read what the parliamentary committee recommended and the full rundown of the passed law.
Want to hear more about the thinking behind these rules? Read our founder Nick Willis's Q&A on why clear e-bike rules matter.
Sources
- Transport and Other Legislation (Managing E-mobility Use and Protecting Our Communities) Amendment Bill 2026 — Queensland Legislation
- E-Bike Assurance Scheme — Queensland Government
- E-bikes, E-scooters and Personal Mobility Devices — StreetSmarts, Queensland Government
- Understanding the EN 50604 Battery Standard and Its Relation to EN 15194 — LEVA-EU
- New E-Bike Rules Falling Into Place — Bicycle Network
