South Hobart's Ahmet Bektas, on his electric bike, says Australia needs to keep up with international changes. SAM ROSEWARNE
BICYCLES with battery-powered boosters are about to get more punch.
But new rules governing power-assisted bikes could be changing.
Ahmet Bektas, a local importer of the pedalecs, said changes in Australian Design Rules allowing increased power from 200 to 250 watts would make Hobart's hills easier to climb.
He said it would also open the local market to a wider range of high-quality pedalecs, which were already on sale in Europe and the United States.
The Tasmanian Government first needs to tweak state laws. A Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources spokeswoman said that would happen next year.
Mr Bektas said the existing 200 watt rule limited the range of bikes available in Tasmania to comparatively cheap Chinese niche brands.
He said those bikes could still be sold and used to a maximum speed of 30km/h, faster if the motor was switched off.
The new rules that match a European standard will only apply to the more powerful bikes, limiting them to a maximum speed of 25km/h, after which the motor cuts out. Pedalecs do not need to be road registered.
Mr Bektas said in Europe where the take-up of power-assisted bikes had rocketed in the past year, policy makers were responding to demands for more power to climb steeper hills, while also continuing to limit speeds.
Mr Bektas said Australia would need to keep up.
"My preference is 25km/h," he said.
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