I have bought an electric bike as a gift for my dad and want to ship it to him, but the courier companies dont seem to keen. It has a lithium battery,it turns out that Lithium battries are classsed as dangerous goods and are subject to all sorts of restrictions when being transported which makes it very costly,although I noticed that the bike dealers who sell electric bikes only charge £20-£30 to ship a bike. how can they this?
Li ion, dangerous goods
- Thread starter hairybiker
- Start date
A complicated area but yes:
UN3480 Lithium ion batteries
UN3090 Lithium metal batteries
with categories for 'packed in equipment' and 'contained in equipment'.
Class 9.
Some of the interesting things for road transport - Exempt if <20Wh or <100Wh if labelled with its rating but if manufacturered after 31/12/11 then they must be labelled with Whr rating. Protect from short circuit and have specific inner soft packing. Pack must withstand a 1.2m drop test.
Air is even more restrictive.
As we all know the ones we get from China come in the post - mmmmm.
UN3480 Lithium ion batteries
UN3090 Lithium metal batteries
with categories for 'packed in equipment' and 'contained in equipment'.
Class 9.
Some of the interesting things for road transport - Exempt if <20Wh or <100Wh if labelled with its rating but if manufacturered after 31/12/11 then they must be labelled with Whr rating. Protect from short circuit and have specific inner soft packing. Pack must withstand a 1.2m drop test.
Air is even more restrictive.
As we all know the ones we get from China come in the post - mmmmm.
If the carriers prove too awkward, just send the bike only that way. Then box the battery with adequate packing to protect it and send it Royal Mail special delivery. It will be delivered overnight for around £10, depending on the battery weight. I've used that service for batteries (undeclared) with no problems, but do make sure the packing is good enough.
I did note that British Airways have similar size limits, which are there to allow you to take your 'gadgets' (up to a laptop in size) but don't go anywhere near enough to allow an e-bike with a battery to ship.
It's worth noting also that although most e-bikes come in under the 23kg weight limit (usually well under without the battery) there's also a size limit - so you'd need a folder, or pay (probably exorbitant) extra charges.
If you're shipping a lithium battery it would probably be wise to almost discharge it first - and charge it immediately on arrival.
Rog.
It's worth noting also that although most e-bikes come in under the 23kg weight limit (usually well under without the battery) there's also a size limit - so you'd need a folder, or pay (probably exorbitant) extra charges.
If you're shipping a lithium battery it would probably be wise to almost discharge it first - and charge it immediately on arrival.
Rog.
A lithium battery on its own, if more than 100Wh (all e-bike batteries are), regardless of how much charge it currently holds, is classed as dangerous goods. But if inserted into a bike it becomes part of that item and as such is no longer considered dangerous and can be shipped by land to the tune of £30 with, sorry, "as part of" the bike.
Mad, isn't it.
Mad, isn't it.
HairyBiker...not sure whether you need to ship by road/sea or air?...The LifePo4 batteries in the Kudos bikes are considered safe for air shipment but the Lithium-Ion are not. But it depends on the courier,we air shipped a bike from China,it was allowed to travel but customs opened the battery and broke the security seals,another courier refused to ship the battery despite our explanations. We now never ship batteries by air. If you explain the shipment you intend I will consider using our 3rd party to 3rd party courier service,provided you accept liability-sending these bikes by courier is always a risk,the drivers don't like the weight and bulk and no matter how well we pack the bikes,including thick wall boxes and foam packing they do get damaged-not good but that is reality. If you cannot pack well,I suggest you find another way.
Let me have all the details and I will try to help.
regards
Dave
KudosCycles
Let me have all the details and I will try to help.
regards
Dave
KudosCycles
Hairy Biker...just to add....Kudos ship in UK all bikes free of charge,our cost varies between £11-£17,3rd party to 3rd party has a surcharge,shipment to mainland Europe averages about £100....we can do this because of bulk buying of courier services....pallets are the cheapest way of moving bulk but bikes are the wrong shape to fit nicely on a pallet.
Dave
KudosCycles
Dave
KudosCycles
I have noticed that some of you are shipping Lithium-Ion batteries by air from China....not wishing to be a killjoy but such parcels have to be very carefully and correctly labelled by the shipper. the fines for getting this wrong can be considerable.
Our parent company,namely Rally Design,sells racecar fire extinguishing systems....we sent a system to Ireland through our road courier service,marked 'pressurised container,do not air ship'-the courier(one of the biggest)decided to airship despite our labelling. The authorities spotted the parcel,threatened us with a 5000 euro fine but decided the courier was most at fault and fined him 3000 euro,the goods were impounded. We were warned that even if intending the shipment by road/sea we should have correct labelling on the parcel-the risk is so high that we no longer send fire extinguishers or any other dangerous cargo for export. To get the labelling absolutely right is complex.
Dave
Kudoscycles
Our parent company,namely Rally Design,sells racecar fire extinguishing systems....we sent a system to Ireland through our road courier service,marked 'pressurised container,do not air ship'-the courier(one of the biggest)decided to airship despite our labelling. The authorities spotted the parcel,threatened us with a 5000 euro fine but decided the courier was most at fault and fined him 3000 euro,the goods were impounded. We were warned that even if intending the shipment by road/sea we should have correct labelling on the parcel-the risk is so high that we no longer send fire extinguishers or any other dangerous cargo for export. To get the labelling absolutely right is complex.
Dave
Kudoscycles
Juicybike said 'But if inserted into a bike it becomes part of that item and as such is no longer considered.'
Unfortunately it becomes UN3481 Lithium Ion contained in equipment so is still dangerous goods. Can't get round it legally unfortunately.
Bottom line is that it can bring the plane down so CAA are really hot on it, US CFR49 is even worse! It's true that it's all about the packaging so flecc's idea is a good one.
Unfortunately it becomes UN3481 Lithium Ion contained in equipment so is still dangerous goods. Can't get round it legally unfortunately.
Bottom line is that it can bring the plane down so CAA are really hot on it, US CFR49 is even worse! It's true that it's all about the packaging so flecc's idea is a good one.
To get the labelling right is indeed complex but I have the books and the training so can look it all up if you want the details. For air there is even a new Li battery label just to make it even more obvious.
C
Cyclezee
Guest
I received a Panasonic battery by courier once wrapped in only one layer of bubble wrap, the case and handle were broken so I refused to accept it.
This is a very hot topic and under the current ICAO, IATA, IMDG and ADR regulations one which is potentially very damaging to the electric vehicle industry at all levels (manufacturers, distributors, retailers and customers), not to mention the serious safety and legal implications that it would appear are too often disregarded.
In light of the fact that our second generation products will be powered by lithium-ion batteries, we here at Karbon Kinetics (manufacturers of Gocycle) have invested a huge amount to ensure that we comply with all regulations surrounding safe and legal transport of Class 9 miscellaneous dangerous goods – yes and that means we have had to specially design a box for our battery, have it tested in a UK lab to the strict UN regulations – down to the specification and puncture resistance of the cardboard!! This all comes in addition to the UN testing of the batteries themselves.
After thorough investigation and meetings with numerous potential carriers, we have written confirmation from all of the major players including DPD, TNT, UPS, DHL, Royal Mail that they categorically will not ship lithium ion batteries of this size – whether just a lithium-ion pack (>100Wh) or an e-bike containing a lithiumion pack >100Wh. E-bikes containing or lithium-ion packs alone over 100Wh, classified under UN 3481 and UN3480 respectively, are deemed to be “fully regulated” dangerous goods and such cannot be accepted under “Excepted” or “Limited” quantities.
Desite the refusal of carraige by regular couriers, we at KKL/Gocycle have met all legal requirements:
- our batteries are tested and certified in accordance with the “UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, subsection 38.3”
- our packaging has been designed and manufactured in accordance with strict UN regulations and has been tested and certified, with the subsequent granting of a UN specification number
- our staff have been trained by an CAA approved training school in the carriage of lithium batteries.
- We have a 24 hour telephone hotline labelled on the box - a legal requirement
It is therefore ONLY possible to safely and legally ship lithium ion batteries over 100Wh with specialist dangerous goods carriers.
Any shipper (be it a manufacturer, distributor, retailer or indeed a customer) found to be shipping lithium-ion batteries and/or electric bikes containing lithium-ion batteries over 100Wh not properly labelled, packaged or transported by such means are potentially subject to an unlimited fine and/or a lengthy prison sentence.
It would appear that other companies have been and continue to ship Class 9 miscellaneous dangerous goods without proper certification, and at the same time were happy to give Gocycle G1s stick for having “low tech” Nimh packs….!!
The regulations are due to change in January 2013, for better or for worse it is not yet known- but until then, we are doing our level best – in spite of apparent widespread disregard for proper shipping of lithium packs, to ensure that Gocycle and KKL are fully compliant in this important area of safety and legality.
GocycleCustomerService
www.gocycle.com
In light of the fact that our second generation products will be powered by lithium-ion batteries, we here at Karbon Kinetics (manufacturers of Gocycle) have invested a huge amount to ensure that we comply with all regulations surrounding safe and legal transport of Class 9 miscellaneous dangerous goods – yes and that means we have had to specially design a box for our battery, have it tested in a UK lab to the strict UN regulations – down to the specification and puncture resistance of the cardboard!! This all comes in addition to the UN testing of the batteries themselves.
After thorough investigation and meetings with numerous potential carriers, we have written confirmation from all of the major players including DPD, TNT, UPS, DHL, Royal Mail that they categorically will not ship lithium ion batteries of this size – whether just a lithium-ion pack (>100Wh) or an e-bike containing a lithiumion pack >100Wh. E-bikes containing or lithium-ion packs alone over 100Wh, classified under UN 3481 and UN3480 respectively, are deemed to be “fully regulated” dangerous goods and such cannot be accepted under “Excepted” or “Limited” quantities.
Desite the refusal of carraige by regular couriers, we at KKL/Gocycle have met all legal requirements:
- our batteries are tested and certified in accordance with the “UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, subsection 38.3”
- our packaging has been designed and manufactured in accordance with strict UN regulations and has been tested and certified, with the subsequent granting of a UN specification number
- our staff have been trained by an CAA approved training school in the carriage of lithium batteries.
- We have a 24 hour telephone hotline labelled on the box - a legal requirement
It is therefore ONLY possible to safely and legally ship lithium ion batteries over 100Wh with specialist dangerous goods carriers.
Any shipper (be it a manufacturer, distributor, retailer or indeed a customer) found to be shipping lithium-ion batteries and/or electric bikes containing lithium-ion batteries over 100Wh not properly labelled, packaged or transported by such means are potentially subject to an unlimited fine and/or a lengthy prison sentence.
It would appear that other companies have been and continue to ship Class 9 miscellaneous dangerous goods without proper certification, and at the same time were happy to give Gocycle G1s stick for having “low tech” Nimh packs….!!
The regulations are due to change in January 2013, for better or for worse it is not yet known- but until then, we are doing our level best – in spite of apparent widespread disregard for proper shipping of lithium packs, to ensure that Gocycle and KKL are fully compliant in this important area of safety and legality.
GocycleCustomerService
www.gocycle.com
D
Deleted member 4366
Guest
Mine arrived a couple of days by Parcelforce. Looks like the package had been opened a couple of times along the way by whoever. 8aH 22v lipos too!
logo or not what was said is correct.Mmmmmmm, don't see any Official Trade Member logo
so how many with Trade Member logos are breaking the law??
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