I have the same problem as you have. Air freight, including postal parcels, cost around 5 - 10 USD /kg from China to EU. A shipment of one container of 32 m3 ( 6 meters long) BY SEA might cost only about 2000 USD. Sea freight of less than containerload (LCL) might be possible at reasonable cost per cubic meter (say somewhat over 2000 USD/32 m3 = over 65 USD/m3), but I have not found yet a shipping company to take my parts from a factory (Chang zhou hua yu xin feng meachanical&electronic co.,ltd) near Shanghai to Helsinki.Has anyone tried importing e-bike components from China? I'm considering getting a 250 watt front and 500 watt rear motor plus controllers for a 2 wheel drive off-road project I'm working on. The prices are good but the Customs and VAT seems to add a considerable chunk; they even tax the freight cost. If it works it will be awesome!
I imported a 350W 36V Bafang CST (keep your 8/9/10 speed rear cluster!) with controller,throttle,ledHas anyone tried importing e-bike components from China? I'm considering getting a 250 watt front and 500 watt rear motor plus controllers for a 2 wheel drive off-road project I'm working on. The prices are good but the Customs and VAT seems to add a considerable chunk; they even tax the freight cost. If it works it will be awesome!
I ordered a Bafang kit from ELifeBike.com. It cost me US$261 for a 36/48V 350W CST (cassette Freewheel) kit with motor in wheel,controller,LED,PAS and throttle. Paid an extra $6 for 2 Big Controller cases as well. Then chose the cheaper shipping SGEMS for $121.71.(£267.10 in total Paypal transfer) This is using local country mail systems and fliying from Singapore. Once in the Uk (Birminham) it goes through customs organised by Parcel Force.I was sweating a bit at first as the parcel takes a few days to enter the tracking system. My first 'sucess' using the number I was given and the EMS tracking website was that it was registered and ready to fly from Singapore.(Parcel Force tracking had the same info I found out later) From then on it was quick. Parcel force (if you are in the UK) will inform you of the duty and charges due.and you can pay on collection. The good news, although not guarantied I suppose, is that the customs label stated goods worth $92 for Contoller case and Controller! So I was billed £20.96 for Import VAT, no duty cos' it was below a set level and £23.5 for a clearance fee for Parcleforce. So total was ££301.56. Ordered in the evening of the 24th. January, payment 4 days later and also the kit was sent off. I was not able to verify the tracking till Feb 4th.when I found it had entered the system.I picked it up from Parcelforce depot in Inverness on 12th.Feb. So 15-16 days from parcel being posted to arrival. That is nearly as good as UPS, DHL etc who charge eyewatering prices and, so I hear, stonking clearance fees. I would have bought in the UK but couldn't find any cassette (and Disc) versions. It also is the standard 135? cm rear dropout width so no bending of my expensive Giant Full Suss frame! I had thought of the Bafang Mid Motor but it is just too low mounted to be any use in more serious downhill trails like at Wolftrax in the Scottish Highlands.Has anyone tried importing e-bike components from China? I'm considering getting a 250 watt front and 500 watt rear motor plus controllers for a 2 wheel drive off-road project I'm working on. The prices are good but the Customs and VAT seems to add a considerable chunk; they even tax the freight cost. If it works it will be awesome!
