Learn the differences between an electric bike and a motorbike and also about the Australian motor vehicle rules about them.

An electric bike or a bicycle assisted by power is actually a bicycle with a motor attached to it for helping the rider and the attached motor is often capable of generating up to 200 watts of power allowing the vehicle to reach a maximum speed of more than 20 miles
per hour.

In Australia ebike riders are not required to have a driving license and these bikes are also exempted from regulatory registration for motor vehicles as well as mandatory third party insurance and rules that electric bike riders are required to follow are actually more or less the same that of the conventional bicycles and riders of power assisted bikes are also required to wear a helmet as a mandatory safety measure.

Requirements in Australia

Any e-bike or power assisted bike requires having the following specifications for being road ready in Australia

Effective cut-out brakes

An audible warning device like a bell

A red reflector facing the rear for using the bike during the night
and along with

A flash able white light fitted in front and a red light fitted in the rear and both of them must be clearly visible from a minimum distance of 200 meters.

Differences between motorbikes and electric bikes

At a first glance people might find little difference between a motorbike with pedals and an electric bike. This is because of the fact that though they look more or less similar the primary difference between them is in their speed, seat position, weight, gearing and of course the available pedal crank spacing. If pedaling is the primary mode of propulsion and the attached motors produce no more than 200 watts of power only then it is considered as a powerful bike in Australia and can be used without a registration number plate or a driving license.

A power assisted bicycle or an electric bike is also required to look quite similar to an ordinary bike with the differences of having an adjustable seat and an electric motor for power assistance and pedaling is also required to be the primary propelling force in a power assisted electric bike for if the motor is the main source of energy for the vehicle then it would be categorized as a motor vehicle and operating such a vehicle would require a mandatory driving license along with registration with the motor vehicle department and third party insurance.

Tips for the buyers

For anybody contemplating purchasing an electric bike that will not require any pedaling for starting the bike then you cannot legally ride them on Australian roads and also the same if the motor in your bike is capable of generating power of more than 200 watts. As these bikes do not comply with Australian electric bike design rules it will not be possible to register them and can be only used as private properties. If they are used on the roads the owner of the vehicle can be issued with a defect notice and also expiation notice for driving unregistered and uninsured vehicle.