Australian Compliance Statement | Electric Tricycles

Summary – Legal position of Trike Bike electric tricycles in Australia

• Australian Standard AS 15194 defines an electric bicycle (e-bike) as a two-wheeled cycle.
• Because a tricycle has three wheels, it is not classified as a bicycle and therefore is not an e-bike under AS 15194.
• NSW Fair Trading has confirmed in writing that a tricycle is not a bicycle for the purposes of AS 15194.
• As a result, the 250 W motor limit that applies to two-wheeled e-bikes does not directly apply to electric tricycles.
• Trike Bike electric tricycles are designed as low-speed mobility-style vehicles for stability, safety, and accessibility.
• All Trike Bike electric tricycles are configured so that motor assistance cuts out at 25 km/h; higher speeds are only possible downhill or by rider pedalling effort.
• When used in accordance with local road and shared-path rules, our tricycles are intended to be used lawfully throughout Australia.

Detailed explanation

Legal status of Trike Bike electric tricycles in Australia

Under the Australian Standard AS 15194:2016 “Cycles – Electrically power assisted cycles – EPAC bicycles (pedelecs)”, an EPAC bicycle is defined, via the harmonised European Standard EN 15194, as a two-wheeled vehicle propelled solely or mainly by the muscular energy of the rider (via pedals), with a maximum continuous rated motor power of 0.25 kW (250 W) and power assistance that cuts out at 25 km/h.

This standard is the basis for the national e-bike framework used by states and territories when they refer to “pedelecs” or “EPAC-compliant e-bikes.”

Across Australia, road authorities and consumer regulators generally treat an electric bicycle as a vehicle that either complies with the EN 15194/AS 15194 pedelec specification (up to 250 W, pedal-assist, cut-off at 25 km/h) or, for older throttle-assist categories, has a motor not exceeding 200 W, with assistance limited to 25 km/h. E-bikes that exceed those limits while still being two-wheeled bicycles are typically regarded as unregistered motor vehicles and are not legal for use on public roads or paths. These frameworks are framed around bicycles, and in several states their guidance refers explicitly to EN 15194-compliant pedelecs.

Trike Bike electric tricycles are purpose-built three-wheeled vehicles designed to provide additional stability and accessibility, particularly for older riders and people with balance or mobility issues and are not two-wheeled bicycles within the AS 15194 meaning.

Motor configurations within our range

• Within this product range, most of our tricycles are pedal-assist only and use 250 W motors, so they are fully aligned with the 250 W pedelec power level while remaining outside the two-wheeled EPAC bicycle definition.
• Some of our tricycles also use 250 W motors and provide both pedal assist and a throttle function for supplementary assistance where needed.
• Finally, some of our larger tricycles, intended for carrying cargo or supporting riders with higher mobility needs, use motors rated above 250 W and provide both pedal assist and a throttle to ensure adequate starting torque and hill-climbing performance.

In all cases, regardless of motor rating or control mode, our tricycles are configured so that electric assistance is disconnected at 25 km/h on level ground; any speed above 25 km/h can only be reached through the assistance of gravity (for example when travelling downhill) or through additional rider pedalling effort above the assisted speed threshold.

Consistent with emerging rules for low-speed personal mobility devices in Australia, which focus on compact dimensions and a maximum speed of around 25 km/h on appropriate paths and low-speed roads, our configuration is designed so that our tricycles operate as low-speed mobility-style devices rather than high-speed vehicles.

In light of the above, and taking into account the written clarification from NSW Fair Trading that a tricycle is not a bicycle under AS 15194, our considered view is that our electric tricycles, when configured and used as described above in various configurations, should be treated in practice as low-speed mobility-style devices rather than EPAC bicycles and are not subject to the 250 W EPAC motor rating limit imposed on two-wheeled e-bikes.

Provided riders comply with applicable local road rules, shared-path rules, speed limits (typically up to 25 km/h for small personal mobility devices) and safety requirements (such as helmet use) in their state or territory, our tricycles are intended to be used lawfully throughout Australia without restriction.