You may have seen recent talk online about the safety of eBikes. In response, state governments have proposed new rules for product certification and use on public transport.
We spoke with our Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Benjamin Carr about how our eBikes already meet the proposed safety standards, eBike safety in general, and what matters for our community of Good Movers.
Benjamin founded Lug+Carrie with his brothers Dan and Jacob to help Aussies replace short car trips, cut carbon, and build sustainable cities. As a trained product designer focussed on public, shared, and micromobility transport, Benjamin has spent over a decade of his career working in Europe, North America, and China, creating and advising both public and private companies on safe, reliable transportation products.
Q: Why is eBike safety suddenly in the news?
A: The current conversation on unsafe eScooters and eBikes doesn’t reflect the whole industry. There’s a huge difference between a high quality eBike and a lower quality, unregulated model. The news stories you may have seen that talk about incoming product regulations or battery fires are primarily linked to eBike products brought into Australia that do not meet existing safety standards.
Every Lug+Carrie eBike meets all existing safety regulations. We’re supportive of stricter regulations, too – it’s a great way to mature the industry and make things safer for all Australians.
Q: Are Lug+Carrie eBikes safe?
A: Absolutely, yes. Before we launched Lug+Carrie back in 2019, we rigorously tested countless eBikes for safety, quality, and reliability. Since day one, we’ve only ever sold and offered subscription eBikes that meet local safety standards.
We work with top tier suppliers like Bosch, who put their batteries, motors, and chargers through tough tests to meet the gold standard for electrical systems. I’m proud to say that in our six years of running the business, we’ve never had a battery fire.
Q: What eBike do you have and what’s your favourite thing about riding?
A: The great thing about running an eBike company is I get to try all our models! Right now, I’m riding a Riese & Muller Nevo, but I’m excited for the arrival of the Generation 3 Tern GSD soon. People love the first and second-gen GSDs for their cargo and passenger carrying capacity. Even without kids, I love being able to carry a mate or lots of gear without the bike feeling bulky.
Q: What should people look for when shopping for an eBike?
A: Whether you are looking for an eBike to carry passengers, lots of stuff, or just you, there are a few questions you should ask first:
- Does it have a Bosch motor and battery? If the answer is yes, you can be sure it meets the highest safety standards.
- Is it compliant with eBike safety standard EN15194? This is a European standard that has been adopted in Australia and covers maximum speed and power output.
- Is the retailer a trusted brand with a local team that can support you and service the eBike?
Before you start looking at the specific features of each eBike, it’s important that the retailer ticks these boxes.
Q:What’s Lug+Carrie doing to address the government inquiries?
A: We’re working with leading industry bodies to help governments understand and enforce smart rules. We believe regulations should focus on proper certification, not a blanket ban that would penalise responsible riders.
Q:What’s happening with eBike safety in NSW?
A: The NSW government is introducing new product certification regulations in February 2026. All Lug+Carrie eBikes meet existing NSW regulations and will meet the incoming ones too. So, if you’re a customer, you can keep riding just as you are. We’re encouraging everyone in NSW to take part in the public consultation which is open right now.
Q: What’s happening with eBike safety in VIC?
A: The Victorian Government is currently reviewing and updating their public transport and safety rules. They do this every ten years and the existing rules are due to expire in 2025. The government invited feedback on their proposal to limit eBikes and scooters on public transport and submissions closed on the 18th of August.
Q: What’s happening with eBike safety in QLD?
A: The Queensland Government is undertaking an inquiry into the safety of e-mobility (eBikes and eScooters). This involved a public consultation that closed in June and the government will report back no later than March 2026 on their recommendations.
Q: What do these changes mean overall for Lug+Carrie customers?
A: For now, nothing changes for our customers. Our goal is to continue making eBike ownership easy and safe so you can keep riding and making a positive impact on our cities. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
And, if you’re considering jumping on a Lug+Carrie, you can rest easy in the knowledge that:
- All our eBikes come with Bosch batteries
- We only stock Tern and Riese & Muller eBikes which are known for their safety and reliability
- Our eBikes Meet all Australian safety standards
- We have a crew of eBike experts offering local support and servicing.
Q: How did Lug+Carrie start and what about it makes you most proud?
A: My brothers and I founded Lug+Carrie with the vision to make it safe and easy for people to replace their car with an eBike. In 2019 Dan and I were on a long road trip from the Blue Mountains to Melbourne with a lot of time to talk. With my background in public transport and Dan’s experience in the vehicle industry and leading the Climate Change working group at NAB, we talked a lot about the transport changes happening in Australia. We both felt that eBikes were incredibly under-adopted and under-utilised. We saw a huge opportunity to help people transition to eBikes, but it needed to be easier and safer.
By 2020, we’d started Lug+Carrie, the eBike subscription business. Now, five years later, we’ve supported 7000 Australians getting onto eBikes and it’s this community that I’m most proud of. It’s really inspiring to meet them, hear their stories and find out why they’re excited to make a positive change in their lives and communities.
Thanks for being part of it!
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If you have any questions at all about eBike safety and the safety inquiries, please chat with out team.
