The 16 Best Electric Bikes In Australia In 2024

There are a bunch of great reasons to get around on your bike, especially if you live in the city. You don’t get stuck in traffic, and you’ll never get a parking ticket or need to pay for petrol. Plus it’s an easy way to get a bit of exercise. However, there is a negative to commuting by bike (apart from the possibility of bad weather): you’re likely to arrive at your destination needing a shower.

The electric bike is a great solution to this sweaty problem, giving you just enough additional pedal power to keep the heart rate down and the speed up. But what are the best electric bikes available right now, and what are the rules on them in Australia? 

Here, we’ll take a look at a range of the best electric bikes, from cargo and mountain electric bikes to road and commuter electric bikes, so we’ve got you covered no matter what you’re looking for. Without further ado, let’s get into it. 

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Best Electric Bikes — Commuter

DUST Urban

There aren’t too many e-bike manufacturers that are Australian-owned, but DUST is a rare homegrown player in what is only becoming a more and more competitive market. DUST was founded to solve the common pain point of e-bike owners around the range of their vehicles, with most e-bikes not having enough battery capacity to make an extended journey or for very regular use.

After extensive product research and prototyping, DUST launched two electric bikes in the form of the off-road Ranger and the more commuter-friendly Urban, both of which have been meticulously engineered for both ride comfort and range. The Urban features the legally required maximum speed of 25km/h and a remarkably long-lasting battery that allows for up to 200 km travelled between charges.

If you’re hunting for an electric commuter bike that doesn’t need daily charging, is able to fold for space-saving storage and public transport commuting conveniently, and rolls on thick road-specific tyres, DUST should be on your shortlist.

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Focus Planet² 6.9

One bike that’s been designed for everything from the commute to the shopping trip is the Focus Planet² 6.9, arriving with a pretty sleek design and high-performance specs in the areas that matter.

Ideal for zipping around the neighbourhood, its robust aluminium frame is paired with a Bosch 250W Mid-Drive motor that delivers a smooth and powerful ride, while the integrated 500Wh battery ensures a range of around 200km. As far as groupsets, you can expect a Shimano Deore 11-speed drivetrain, and you’re also getting hydraulic disc brakes, a suspension fork with 110mm of travel, and integrated lights and fenders.

From end to end, there’s a lot to love about what Focus is doing in the commuter space right now.

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Cannondale Adventure Neo 4

If you’re after an e-bike to pop down to the shops, commute to the office, or just get around town, there’s a lot to like about the Cannondale Adventure Neo 4. It’s got a sleek-looking set-up, hitting the sweet spot that won’t make you feel like you’re a professional racer, or riding the bike got to school on. It’s also available in either an attractive electric blue or a stealthier grey paint job, depending on what tickles your fancy. 

RELATED: The 22 Best Mountain Bikes Money Can Buy In 2024

It’s powered by a hardy 250w Bosch Active Line motor, which will easily zip you around town. The range is decent too, with up to 105kms in the tank between charges thanks to its 400Wh battery. 

Also arriving with Shimano Altus 9-speed shifting to get you up to speed, and hydraulic disc brakes to slow you down, the lightweight aluminium frame of the Cannondale Adventure Neo 4 is relaxed and comfortable. So if you’re looking for a simple, yet effective electric bike to get you from A to B, this is one to consider. 

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Gazelle Ultimate C380 HMB

Another city bike worth a look at is the Gazelle Ultimate C380 HMB, which boasts a compelling blend of low-maintenance geartrain and high-spec parts across the rest of the bike. With a lightweight aluminium frame that has a robustly designed geometry, it’ll get you to your destination drama-free and looking fresh. 

The power unit behind what makes this electric bike roll is Bosch’s Performance Line electric motor, which has an impressive 75 Nm of torque, combined with the cutting-edge Enviolo trekking hub that makes steep hills a dream to climb. It’s also made possible thanks to the 625 Wh integrated battery, which has a maximum range of 104km. It also features safe and secure hydraulic disc brakes, a tail light that is integrated into the rear rack and an adjustable dynamo-powered headlight up the front.

With wide tyres and front suspension to make for a smooth ride, it’s a more up-market offering than some other electric bicycle options with the commute in mind, but Gazelle have gotten the details right with the Ultimate C380 HMB.

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Aventon Pace 350.2 Step-Thru

If budget is an important factor in the decision of which the best electric bike is for you, the Aventon Pace 350.2 Step-Thru is an attractive proposition. Despite being a more affordable option within the world of electric bicycles, Aventon hasn’t skimped on the design of the Pace 350.2 Step-Through, with a relaxed frame geometry that ensures you’re in a comfortable position when you’re pedalling.

With a maximum speed that exceeds the legal limits in Australia, you’ll be zipping around town with the 7-speed Shimano Tourney drivetrain and five levels of pedal assist built-in. It’s powered by an integrated rear hub motor, with a decent-sized battery that will hit full charge in around 4 hours of charging.

With chunky and stable 2.2-inch Kenda Kwick Seven Sport tyres, and brakes via a set of robust Tektro mechanical disc brakes, it’s a safe, stable ride that you don’t need to be a professional to handle smoothly. On top of that, you’re also getting some very decent value with the Aventon Pace 350.2 Step-Thru.

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Lekker Amsterdam GT eBike

If there is anywhere on the planet that you should take suggestions on electric bicycle commuting from, it’s Amsterdam. Not only is it one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world, but this local knowledge has been put to good use by the folks at Lekker bikes, who have more than a couple of excellent electric bikes in their catalogue.

The latest generation electric bicycle the brand has released is the Lekker Amsterdam GT eBike, which is a thoughtful, but no-fuss approach to the daily commute. It boasts a step-less Enviolo shifting hub and bicycle transmission, as well as a Bafang M420 motor and aluminium 6061 smooth welded diamond frame that will have you zipping around town.

Featuring a removable 630Wh capacity battery, the Lekker Amsterdam GT eBike boasts a maximum range of 120kms which will likely only see you needing to charge it a couple of times a week. Good battery life isn’t all, however, with a practical cargo rack on the front of the bike, for anything you might need to carry.

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Best Electric Bikes — Road

Specialized Turbo Creo 2 Expert

With a reputation for making some of the world’s top-tier road bikes, it should come as no surprise that Specialized has also made a very impressive electric bike for the road. One of the best e-bikes from the Specialized factory is the Turbo Creo 2 Expert carbon e-road bike, which is lightweight, zippy and fast enough to get the blood pumping.

At just under 14kg, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a peleton that can drop you when the pace lifts, especially considering it is also powered by the 320-watt, SL 1.2 motor that can silently offer as much pedal assist as you need for a little more speed. The SL 1.12is paired with an ample battery that offers up to 190kms of range, making it the perfect e-bike to do some big days in the saddle.

The Specialized Turbo Creo 2 Expert certainly isn’t the most affordable electric bike on the market, but if budget is less of a concern than power output and responsiveness, it’s definitely worth considering.

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Trek Domane+ SLR 6

Trek is another manufacturer with more than its fair share of race-winning road bike expertise, which has been translated into an electric bike via the Trek Domane+ SLR 6. Using the endurance-road geometry of the Domane carbon frame and fork, as well as the rest of the trimmings you’d expect from a top-of-the-line road bike, the Domane+ SLR 6 can easily hold tempo at around 25kph.

The bike is powered by a 50 Nm TQ harmonic pin ring motor, driven by a 360 Wh battery, which integrates seamlessly with the Shimano 105 2×12 Di2 wireless electronic drivetrain. The benefit of the motor system is that when you pass the maximum assist speed or just want to turn the motor off, you won’t feel much resistance thanks to its lightweight construction.

If you don’t need the extra power for your next ride, or you just forgot to charge the battery, you can also remove the motor and battery to save nearly 3kgs in total weight. If you’re after an electric road bike that can double as a normal road bike, without sacrificing any aesthetic elements, the Domane+ SLR 6 is worth considering.

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Santa Cruz Skitch

Part commute crusher, part training partner on the gravel or road, the Santa Cruz Skitch combines sleek design with high performance for anyone who loves time in the saddle.

Featuring a lightweight carbon frame and a powerful Fazua Ride60 motor, it offers snappy acceleration and smooth handling, while the integrated 430Wh battery ensures ample range for anything you might need it for. The specs are solid, with the Shimano GRX 11-speed drivetrain delivering precise shifting, while the hydraulic disc brakes and thick gravel tires ensure the Skitch has reliable stopping power and grip.

As far as all rounder electric bikes go, the Santa Cruz Skitch can basically do it all.

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Best Electric Bikes — Cargo And Family

Urban Arrow Family Performance Plus

Sometimes an electric bike isn’t about getting you over rocky trails or open roads as quickly as possible, but actually about navigating the city streets smoothly and safely. If you’re just trying to get the kids safely off to daycare before you launch into another day at the office, the Urban Arrow Family offers everything you could want and more.

Its instantly recognisable shape is longer than most electric bikes, built to house a large section at the front of the bike that can carry anything from your children to your groceries. Featuring a lightweight aluminium frame, the Urban Arrow Family is still light and manoeuvrable enough to navigate traffic without becoming unstable or losing balance.

Kitted out with a 250W Bosch Performance Line Gen 3 motor, powered by a 500Wh battery from the same manufacturer, you’ll have more than enough power in your pedals to get to wherever you’re going. If family comes first, this could be the e-bike for you.

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Momentum PakYak E+

Another rock-solid option within the world of cargo electric bikes comes from Momentum, in their recently released PakYak E+. With its block colour scheme and low-slung, step-through aluminium frame, it’s a relatively compact bike that still makes a bit of a statement.

Featuring a SyncDrive Pro mid-drive motor, that comes with a 500Wh battery, you’ll be able to get around with any precious cargo on the front or rear racks, with a maximum weight load of 164kgs. If you need more power though, it even comes with the option of a second battery, just in case you run out of time to get a full charge into the main battery. In terms of a quality cargo electric bicycle, the Momentum PakYak E+ should deliver everything you might be looking for and more.

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Best Electric Bikes — Mountain

Santa Cruz Heckler SL

Santa Cruz is a brand that has only become available in Australia in recent years, but bikes like the Heckler SL e-mountain bike are already proving popular both thanks to its high performance specifications and exciting range of colours.

Arriving with a lightweight carbon frame that’s coupled with a FAZUA 450W RIDE60 motor (capable of 65Nm of torque) that draws from a very nicely integrated FAZUA 430 Wh battery, it’s robust and agile enough to comfortably handle anything but the steepest trails. The SRAM groupset is excellent, the suspension package is impressive and it even arrives with an indicator on the top tube to tell you how much juice the battery has left.

Designed for serious off-road adventures, the Heckler SL’s integrated elements and impressive build quality make it an excellent choice for everything from racing to ripping around with your mates.

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Focus SAM² 6.0

It might not be the most lightweight electric mountain bike in the game, but the Focus SAM² 6.0 is built to handle even the roughest and rockiest trails, with a bulletproof frame and dependable specifications.

Arriving with an aluminium frame (hence the weight), the Bosch Performance CX motor offers powerful support on the climbs, without sacrificing any agility on rugged downhill sections. With a 750Wh battery that translates to a solid day of riding, the Shimano Deore drivetrain guarantees smooth and precise gear shifts, while the FOX suspension and hydraulic disc brakes, promise excellent control and comfort.

Designed for even the most demanding of off-road adventures, the SAM² 6.0’s advanced technology and quality craftsmanship make it a good choice for anyone looking to enjoy training or racing with a little electric assistance.

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Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo

The Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo is set to shift what we think of as a performance-focused e-bike, into a ride that is not only lightweight but also responsive and agile. But such an impressive performance package doesn’t come cheap, with one of the more eye-watering price tags on this list at more than $20,000. 

The core of this bike’s performance is the Specialized Turbo Full Power System 2.2 565-watt motor and Specialized M3-700 700Wh battery with a radically advanced and seamlessly integrated controller, allowing you to enjoy up to 5 hours of ride time. Not only will this get you to the top of your favourite trails faster, but you’ll also have much fresher legs with the help of the motor. 

As well as the impressive motor and the lightweight carbon frame, the 2023 Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo also comes stock with SRAM’s premier XX1 Eagle drivetrain, and FOX Factory suspension. If you want one of the best mountain e-bikes that money can buy, then you need to have the 2023 Specialized S-Works Turbo Levo on your list. 

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Yeti 160E T1 TURQ

According to Yeti, the 160E T1 TURQ is the first-ever race-specific e-bike, and coming from a brand that knows a thing or two about making world-beating bikes, we’re inclined to agree. Yeti designers spent half a decade working on the 160E T1 TURQ, with an entirely new frame and suspension package designed for the increased speed and weight of an e-bike.

Featuring a Shimano EP8 motor and 630-watt hour battery, the Yeti 160E T1 TURQ is built to be more stable the faster it goes, thanks in part to the set of 29-inch wheels that eat technical trails for breakfast. The FOX FACTORY front suspension offers a very impressive 160mm of travel, which Shimano have much of the drivetrain covered with their XT products.

It’s a bike that is built to go fast, by a team of people who know a lot about making athletes as quick as possible. No, this isn’t the cheapest e-bike on the market (nor is it the most expensive), but it’ll do everything you want it to and more. 

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Trek Powerfly 4 Gen 4

One of the good things about the increasingly wide range of electric bikes on the market, is that there’s something for pretty much every imaginable terrain. If you want an electric bike that can get you to work and back, but also be ridden along some more technical trails on the weekend, the Trek Powerfly 4 Gen 4 is a cracking option.

You’re getting 120mm of travel with the front Suntour Zeron XCM 34 fork, integrated into the sturdy aluminium frame. If that wasn’t enough mountain bike for you, you’re also getting a dropper post, the option of 27.5 or 29-inch wheels, hydraulic disc brakes, and a 10-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain.

However, it also has the practical everyday features of a kickstand, cargo racks and a Bosch Performance Line CX motor with a 500Wh battery, just to make sure you’ve got everything you might want for your commute. The Trek Powerfly 4 Gen 4 really is a go-anywhere, do-anything type of ride.

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What You Need To Know Before Buying An Electric Bike

In Australia, the electric bike boom is here to stay, with sales up 800% in the last half-decade. This is thanks to the improvement of battery technology over the same period which has seen electric bikes evolve from being expensive and heavy with low battery range to lightweight and increasingly affordable alternatives to traditional bikes. Even as recently as 2016, there were just 9,000 e-bikes sold in Australia, compared to around 100,000 in 2022.

What’s the difference between an electric bike and a low-powered scooter or motorbike?

In Australia, the distinction is made that an e-bike must be, “propelled primarily by the rider,” rather than solely by the motor. Basically, you still need to pedal, but the motor offers pedal assistance to get you up to speed and keep you there, which is particularly helpful when riding up a hill or into a headwind. The rules state an e-bike can have a motor with up to 250w of power, but that it cuts out when you hit 25kph or stop pedalling, in order to keep them as safe as possible. 

Typically, most electric bikes are set up with lithium-ion battery packs that have more than enough power to meet the maximum Australian requirements. The battery range of an e-bike is a tricky thing to calculate, depending on the type of bike (eg. mountain bike vs. road bike), rider weight, speed, frequency of stops and the number of hills.

In spite of that, nearly all bikes will have a range of between 30kms and 200kms depending on the specific conditions. Specialized has a handy range calculator that you can use to get a decent estimate of how far you’re likely to get depending on your specific circumstances.

Because of how much variability there can be in range, bike brands have wasted no time in building highly specific types of electric bikes, from mountain bikes and road bikes, to heavy-duty cargo bikes and bikes that can carry child passengers.

It’s definitely worth considering what you want the e-bike for and how you’re likely to use it, be it commuting to work, taking the kids to school or hitting the trails on the weekend. Happy hunting!

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If you’ve enjoyed this guide to the best electric bikes, consider having a read of our other related guides. Here are several of our favourites:

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