The rule that changed on 1 February

Since 1 February 2026, e-micromobility devices and their batteries cannot be sold in NSW unless they have been tested by an accredited lab, certified, and marked. That covers e-bikes, e-scooters, e-skateboards and hoverboards, plus any standalone lithium-ion battery sold to power them. The framework sits under NSW Fair Trading, and compliant products carry a Certificate of Approval.

The reason is plain. Fire and Rescue NSW calls lithium-ion batteries the fastest growing fire risk in the state. Most of those fires trace back to cheap, uncertified cells and chargers, the kind that used to arrive in a plain box with no testing behind them.

It also covers second-hand and ex-hire bikes

This is the part buyers miss. The rule is not limited to new stock. Second-hand devices and former hire-fleet bikes sold in NSW have to meet the same testing and marking requirements. If you are shopping the used market, a bike with no certification mark is a bike that should not be on sale.

A NSW rule, not a national one

Worth being clear. This is a state framework, led by NSW. The ACCC has not set a federal mandatory safety standard for e-bikes, and there is no national equivalent in force yet. So a bike sold legally in another state may not meet the NSW bar. If you buy interstate or online, check the listing names the certification, not just the brand.

Charging is where most fires start

Certification fixes the cell. How you charge fixes the rest. The Fire and Rescue NSW guidance is short, and worth following to the letter.

Charge in an open space such as a garage or shed, away from doors and exits, never in a bedroom or hallway. Put the bike on a hard surface that will not burn, concrete or tile, not carpet or a timber floor. Do not charge overnight or when you are out of the house. Unplug once the battery is full. Keep a working smoke alarm or heat alarm in the room where you charge. If the battery is swelling, leaking or running hot, stop using it. And only ever use the charger that came with the bike.

The three checks before you pay

One, look for the certification mark and ask to see the Certificate of Approval. Two, confirm the battery and charger are the originals, matched to the bike. Three, if a deal looks too cheap for a certified bike, it usually is. The certification costs money, and that cost shows up in the price.

A certified e-bike is not the expensive option. It is the one that does not end up on the evening news.