The Queensland government has released more information on the new e-bike laws and the various approval options. We have more details of the process up to June with links in our blog post of June 8th 2026, and this post brings us up to date as of late October 2026.
History
In brief, the Queensland Government held a parliamentary inquiry into e-mobility, two review committee sittings, heard thousands of public submissions, and then passed a raft of new laws and amendments.
These laws introduced drivers licence and age requirements, new speed limits, new definitions for e-mobility devices, and added enforcement provisions.
Following the initial July 1st start date for the new laws, more details have been released covering the drivers licence rules, and legacy/special purpose EPAC compliance details.
https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/wheeled-devices/electric-bicycle-rules
Drivers Licence
A drivers licence is required to ride an e-bike in Queensland. The licence must be valid and be at a minimum a Learner Licence. Equivalent interstate or overseas licences are recognized.
There is provision for a medical exemption. The completed exemption form must be signed by a medical practitioner and then carried with you while riding.
https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/wheeled-devices/e-mobility-licence-exemptions
Legacy and special purpose electrically power assisted cycles (EPAC)
When the new laws were first introduced, provision was made for approval to be granted for power assisted cycles that were legal prior to 1 July 2026 . These were termed Legacy EPAC for e-bikes compliant with the pre 1 July laws, and Special Purpose EPAC for other power assisted pedal cycles.
August 31st 2026 saw the publishing of an amendment to the transport and road use regulations introducing paragraph 129D for Legacy EPAC, and para 129E for Special Purpose EPAC.
Para 129D Legacy EPAC rule broadly follows the superseded legislation but, importantly, adds an anti-tamper provision to prevent speed or power modifications that were not part of the previous definition.
Para 129E Special Purpose EPAC is new, and has different power and speed limits to other e-bikes. The prescribed characteristics are as follows:
- For section 122Q of the Act, definition special purpose EPAC, paragraph (e), this section prescribes the characteristics and limitations for special purpose EPACs.
- A special purpose EPAC must have pedals.
- When propelled only by auxiliary electric motor, a special purpose EPAC must not be capable of exceeding a speed of 12km/h.
- The propulsion assistance provided by an auxiliary electric motor must cut off once the special purpose EPAC reaches a speed of 25km/h.
- A special purpose EPAC must not have a feature that allows a speed limitation mentioned in subsection (3) or (4) to be bypassed, disengaged or overridden, unless the feature is for the purpose of setting a lower speed limitation.
The important thing to note here is sub para 5, as it has serious implications for special purpose e-bikes.
EPAC Verification rules
The new EPAC Verification Scheme details were published on October 1st 2026. These fill in much of the unknown around the Legacy and Special Purpose requirements. For the purposes of verification, if the vehicle has 3 or more wheels it automatically is eligible for the special purpose EPAC criteria.
The assurance scheme is expected to be live and available from 2nd November 2026.
The compliance rules are now available and contains important information for those wishing to have their power assisted cycle approved.
For owners and riders, the vital information is the inspection process and pass criteria. Particular points are
- the maximum power assisted speed and
- the anti-tampering and modifications section
Included is a requirement for the person verifying to do research to confirm that there are no manufacturer, importer, distributor or retailer provided methods of disabling or increasing the speed or MCRP of the device.
This last bit has huge implications. All aftermarket e-assist kits (that recumbent trikes have relied on for e-assist) have the ability to set the speed and often power limits – as they must seeing as they are made for a world wide market with many different cycle styles – and this clause alone makes them fail the inspection criteria. Not only that, it also raises questions regarding the viability of factory fitted systems.
Factory fitted e-assist is generally reliant on motor systems from the big manufacturers, who have developed their motors to comply with EN15194. The problem here is that the specifications within EN15194 allow a 10% overspeed tolerance for the power assisted limit. Potentially these compliant e-bike s can run up to 27.5kph with e-assist, and this is at odds with the Legacy and Special Purpose EPAC criteria.
TMR have confirmed that there is no tolerance in the pass/fail criteria.
EN15194 systems also have a means of adjusting the wheel diameter to tune the calibration of the speed recording. One brand allows a plus or minus 5% speed adjustment. Technically this would fail the inspection criteria, however how this and the EN15194 speed tolerance will be applied in practice is yet to be seen.
Summary
To say this is a disappointment is a great understatement. The tone of the verification rules is that they expect to be checking factory built e-assist cycles and have made no allowance for the very necessary small scale modifications via aftermarket or specialist installations.
If the verifying persons apply the rules as strictly as TMR appear to be directing, I can see a bleak time ahead for those wishing to ride legal e-assist recumbent trikes.
And finally, to answer the unasked question: will we become Authorised Verifiers for the assurance scheme? The short answer is no. At time of writing we have been unable secure the required insurance to cover the inspection activities.
Electric Bicycle Rules: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/wheeled-devices/electric-bicycle-rules
E-mobility Licence exemptions: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/wheeled-devices/e-mobility-licence-exemptions
Legacy and Special Purpose EPAC characteristics: Rules for assessing Legacy and Special Purpose EPAC
E-bike Assurance Scheme: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/rules/wheeled-devices/e-bike-assurance-scheme
E-bike Verification Rules: https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/epac-verification-rules
EPAC Verification Form F5469: https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-f5469