You're moving overseas and you've finally got everything organised. The furniture is booked with the removal company and your flights are sorted. Even your electric bike has a place in the shipment.
Then your moving company asks whether the bike has a lithium battery.
You tell them it does and suddenly there's a problem. They can take the bicycle but they won't accept the battery.
If this has happened to you you're certainly not the only one. It's a common issue for people relocating internationally with electric bicycles.
Fortunately it doesn't necessarily mean you have to leave your battery behind or buy a replacement when you arrive.
Your moving company can take the bike but not the battery?
The bicycle and its lithium battery may need different transport arrangements. With the right planning it's sometimes possible to get both to your new home.
You may be able to transport the bicycle without its battery through your moving company and arrange a separate specialist dangerous goods shipment for the battery. Lithium batteries require correct classification, packaging, documentation and carrier acceptance. Not every battery is eligible for transport so it must be assessed first.
Why won't moving companies take electric bike batteries?
Most electric bikes use rechargeable lithium ion batteries. These batteries store a significant amount of energy and can present a fire risk if damaged or incorrectly handled.
Because of this lithium batteries are regulated as dangerous goods for transport.
An international moving company may be happy to transport your furniture, clothing and bicycle but might not have the approvals or procedures needed to accept the battery.
Some household removal services also have blanket restrictions on lithium batteries regardless of their condition.
This doesn't necessarily mean your battery is damaged or unsafe. It means the transport company may not be willing or able to carry it under the applicable regulations.
Can you take your e-bike battery on your flight instead?
For most electric bicycles the answer is no.
Airline passenger baggage rules place strict limits on lithium ion batteries.
Certain lithium ion batteries exceeding 100 Wh but not exceeding 160 Wh may be accepted under specific conditions with airline approval.
Most electric bicycle batteries are considerably larger than this.
For example a typical electric mountain bike might have a 500 Wh, 625 Wh or 900 Wh battery.
These are well above the usual passenger baggage limits. Removing the battery from the bike doesn't change its watt hour rating or make it suitable for passenger baggage.
Do not place an e-bike battery in your checked suitcase or carry on baggage unless it is expressly permitted under the applicable passenger battery rules. Typical high capacity e-bike batteries are not accepted as ordinary passenger baggage.
Can you ship the electric bike and battery separately?
Yes in some circumstances and this is often the most practical option to investigate.
The bicycle itself may be transported through your moving company or an international bicycle shipping service once the battery has been removed and the bike has been prepared according to the carrier's requirements.
The battery can then be assessed for specialist dangerous goods transport.
This usually involves confirming the battery's specifications, condition and transport classification before arranging suitable packaging and documentation.
Depending on the battery and route an approved cargo aircraft service may be used.
It's important to understand that not all lithium batteries can be shipped by air. Damaged or defective batteries and certain other conditions can prevent acceptance.
Ordinary bicycle shipping
Once the battery has been removed the bicycle may be packed in a suitable bike carton and transported through an appropriate freight or moving service.
Specialist dangerous goods transport
The lithium battery must be assessed and may require specialist packaging, declarations and a carrier that accepts the relevant dangerous goods.
What information is needed to ship an e-bike battery?
Before a specialist transport provider can confirm whether your battery is suitable for shipping they'll usually need some basic information.
- The battery manufacturer and model number
- The watt hour rating shown on the battery label
- The battery's weight and dimensions
- Whether the battery is removable from the bicycle
- Whether the battery is used or new
- Confirmation of its condition and any known damage
- The collection and delivery locations
- Any available manufacturer transport testing information
Photographs of the battery and its label can be particularly helpful.
If you're unsure of the watt hour rating it may be shown as Wh on the label. Some batteries instead show voltage and amp hours which can be used to calculate the nominal energy rating.
Providing accurate information at the start can help avoid delays later.
How does specialist e-bike battery shipping work?
The exact process depends on the battery and destination but it generally follows a few key steps.
The transport provider checks the battery specifications, condition and available documentation to determine whether it can be accepted for shipment.
Depending on the service the battery may be collected from an address or delivered to an approved packing location.
The battery is packed using packaging suitable for its classification and the applicable dangerous goods requirements.
The required shipping documents and package markings are prepared in accordance with the applicable transport rules.
The shipment is booked with a carrier that accepts the relevant dangerous goods on the intended route.
The shipment is processed through the destination country's import requirements before final delivery where available.
What are the transport options for an e-bike and its battery?
| Transport option | Electric bicycle | Lithium battery |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger airline baggage | Airline acceptance varies and e-bikes may be prohibited even without batteries. | Typical high capacity e-bike batteries are not permitted. |
| Household moving company | May accept the bicycle with its battery removed. | Often excluded under the company's dangerous goods policy. |
| International courier | May accept the bicycle depending on its size and packaging. | Requires specific dangerous goods acceptance and arrangements. |
| Specialist dangerous goods freight | Can be coordinated with a separate bicycle shipment. | May accept eligible batteries following assessment and compliant preparation. |
Example: Moving from New Zealand to Australia with an electric mountain bike
Your removal company accepts the bike but refuses the battery
Imagine you're relocating from Queenstown to Sydney and have an electric mountain bike with a removable 625 Wh lithium ion battery.
Your household moving company is transporting your furniture and personal belongings. They've confirmed they can take the bicycle but won't accept its battery.
One option is to remove the battery and have the bicycle packed and transported with your household shipment.
The battery can then be assessed separately by a dangerous goods specialist to determine whether it is eligible for international transport.
If accepted the battery would be prepared using the appropriate dangerous goods packaging and documentation before being transported through a suitable cargo service.
The bicycle and battery might arrive on different dates but this approach may allow you to take the complete e-bike overseas without trying to carry the battery on your passenger flight.
Can you ship a used electric bike battery?
A used lithium battery is not automatically prohibited from international transport.
However its condition is particularly important.
A battery that has been used normally and remains in good working condition may be eligible for transport subject to the applicable regulations and carrier acceptance.
A battery that is damaged, swollen, leaking, overheating or suspected of being defective presents a different level of risk.
Batteries that are damaged or defective for safety reasons are forbidden from transport by air.
If you're unsure about the battery's condition don't attempt to ship it without specialist advice.
How much does it cost to ship an e-bike battery overseas?
Shipping an electric bike battery is different from sending an ordinary parcel.
The cost can include specialist packaging, dangerous goods documentation, inspection, collection and international freight.
The battery's weight and dimensions also affect the transport cost along with the collection and delivery locations.
A specialist shipment may cost more than expected because the transport requirements are more involved than those for ordinary luggage.
If you're comparing options it's worth getting a complete quote that includes the services you actually need rather than just the freight charge.
What about customs duties and taxes?
Even if you've owned your electric bike for several years it may still need to be declared when entering another country.
Some countries provide customs concessions for used personal belongings when someone is moving their normal place of residence.
However eligibility depends on the destination country's rules and your circumstances.
The bicycle and battery may also be shipped separately which can require separate customs documentation.
It's important to provide accurate descriptions and realistic values for both items.
How Send Stuff and DG Solutions can arrange the complete e-bike shipment
If your moving company has refused your e-bike battery you don't necessarily need to find several different companies to get everything overseas.
Send Stuff works alongside DG Solutions to coordinate international shipping for electric bicycles and their lithium batteries.
Send Stuff can assist with the bicycle itself while DG Solutions handles the specialist dangerous goods requirements for eligible batteries.
Bicycle collection, suitable packing and international shipping coordination.
Lithium battery assessment, compliant packaging, documentation and specialist freight coordination.
DG Solutions regularly arranges international e-bike battery shipments and has experience handling the additional requirements involved in transporting lithium batteries.
Reviewing the battery specifications and condition to establish whether transport is possible.
Preparing accepted batteries in packaging that meets the relevant dangerous goods requirements.
Preparing the required declarations, package markings and labels.
Coordinating transport through suitable carriers and routes that accept the shipment.
The bicycle and battery may still travel separately and arrive at different times. However the arrangements can be coordinated as part of the same overall relocation.
You can also learn more about the specialist service through DG Solutions Australia.
What if you need the entire electric bike collected and shipped?
Not everyone has a household moving company.
You might be moving overseas with just a few suitcases and your electric bike. Or perhaps you've already relocated and the bicycle is still sitting at your previous address.
In that situation it may be possible to arrange collection and suitable packaging for the bicycle as well as separate specialist transport for the battery.
The bicycle can be packed in a suitable bike carton while the battery is prepared under the applicable dangerous goods requirements.
The collection and delivery arrangements can then be coordinated so you don't need to manage every part of the process yourself.
The exact services available depend on where the bike is located and where it needs to go.
Checklist before moving overseas with an e-bike
Frequently asked questions
Why won't my removal company ship my e-bike battery?
Lithium batteries are regulated as dangerous goods and some removal companies don't have the procedures or approvals needed to transport them. Others exclude lithium batteries under their own acceptance policies.
Can I ship an e-bike battery internationally?
Some e-bike batteries can be transported internationally through specialist dangerous goods services. Acceptance depends on the battery's condition, specifications, documentation and the available carrier and route.
Can I fly with a 500 Wh e-bike battery?
No. A typical 500 Wh e-bike battery exceeds the passenger lithium battery allowances and cannot be transported as ordinary checked or carry on baggage.
Can I send the bicycle and battery separately?
Yes in some cases. The bicycle can travel through an ordinary transport service once properly prepared while the battery may be shipped separately under specialist dangerous goods arrangements.
Can I ship a used Bosch or Shimano e-bike battery?
Potentially. The manufacturer alone doesn't determine whether a battery is accepted. Its exact model, condition, specifications and supporting documentation must be assessed.
Can one provider organise both my e-bike and battery?
Yes. Send Stuff works alongside DG Solutions to coordinate international bicycle shipping and specialist battery transport where the battery and route are eligible.
You may not have to leave your e-bike battery behind
Being told that your moving company won't take your electric bike battery can be frustrating especially when you've already organised the rest of your move.
But it doesn't necessarily mean you need to sell the battery or purchase a replacement overseas.
In some cases the bicycle and battery can be transported separately using services suited to each item.
The key is arranging the battery assessment early and making sure the transport provider understands the dangerous goods requirements.
If you're planning an international move with an electric bike it's worth investigating the available options before your moving date.
Need help shipping your e-bike and battery overseas?
Send Stuff can help coordinate international bicycle shipping while DG Solutions handles the specialist lithium battery requirements.
DG Solutions regularly arranges international e-bike battery shipments including compliant packaging, dangerous goods documentation and freight coordination.
Whether your moving company has refused your battery or you need the complete bicycle collected and shipped we can review the details and advise on the available options.
Send us the bicycle model, battery watt hour rating and collection and delivery locations to get started.
Enquire About E-Bike ShippingLithium battery transport requirements and carrier acceptance can change. Always confirm the current requirements before arranging shipment.