Noosa 360

Following concerns raised by residents regarding electric bikes purchased in good faith that are no longer permitted to be used on public roads and paths under Queensland’s new e-mobility laws, we submitted a Question on Notice to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads seeking advice on whether the Queensland Government would consider establishing a buy-back, trade-in or compensation scheme for owners whose e-bikes can no longer be lawfully used for their intended purpose.

The Minister provided the following response in italics:

In support of the new e-mobility laws, the Department of Transport and Main Roads is currently consulting with industry on the development of an e-bike assurance scheme. This was recommended by the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee and supported by the Queensland Government.

The intention of the scheme will be to support e-bike users who purchased compliant e-bikes in good faith but without a valid compliance label, to have their e-bikes assessed and verified as safe and legal and have a compliance label affixed. The scheme will support verification of e-bikes which met the legal specifications prior to 1 July 2026—250-watts maximum continuous rated power and maximum 25 kilometres per hour motor assisted speed. It will also enable special purpose e-bikes that have been designed or modified to support people with a disability or medical condition (for example, e-trikes) to be verified. Users will have an opportunity to have their e-bike verified until 28 February 2027.

The planned e-bike assurance scheme will provide a low-cost pathway for existing compliant e-bike owners to have their devices verified and labelled. As such, there is no intention or need for a buy-back scheme. Non-compliant devices will not be eligible for the scheme. Users who purchased high-speed and high-powered e-bikes have never been able to legally ride in public and, from 1 July 2026, face strengthened police powers, including device seizure and destruction, and increased penalties.

We appreciate the Minister’s response and welcome the proposed assurance scheme, which will provide a pathway for owners of eligible compliant e-bikes without an EN15194 compliance label to have their devices assessed and verified. However, we have since written back to the Minister requesting clarification on whether the scheme will also apply to bicycles fitted with aftermarket electric conversion kits that complied with Queensland’s power and speed requirements at the time but may no longer be eligible under the new EN15194 certification framework.

We have also requested further information on how the assurance scheme will operate, including eligibility requirements, verification locations, costs, and the process for obtaining compliance labels. While the Queensland Government has advised that these details will be released closer to 1 October 2026, we will provide a further update once both this information and the Minister’s response are received.

Further information

For information on Queensland’s new e-bike laws, visit:
https://streetsmarts.initiatives.qld.gov.au/e-bikes-e-scooters/

For our previous Noosa 360 updates on e-mobility reforms, visit:
https://www.sandybolton.com/?s=e-bike

To advocate directly with the Minister for Transport and Main Roads regarding Queensland’s e-mobility laws, email transportandmainroads@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please remember to copy our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward us any response you receive.