Electric Bikes Conversion Kits EMTBS eRoad/Commuting What's New?

International travelling with ebike

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cwah

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 3, 2011
3,048
179
www.whatonlondon.co.uk
Hello there,

Have any of you done that?

Last time I took the eurostar with my bike and I didn't have problem with my 36V10AH battery pack.

But has that ever happened? I've read that it's not possible to bring lithium batteries anymore on the plane.

So train only for international travelling without problem?
 
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eddieo

Banned
Jul 7, 2008
5,070
6
I guess so...or in a car/campervan!lol We must have done over 8 countries so far since last summer....
 
C

cwah

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 3, 2011
3,048
179
www.whatonlondon.co.uk
Too bad. :(

I suppose that if I want to go to Ireland with my ebike, I'd need to go by boat lol
 
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eddieo

Banned
Jul 7, 2008
5,070
6
I have no idea regards flying with one. Someone will be along soon to dash your hopes I suspect
 
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cwah

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 3, 2011
3,048
179
www.whatonlondon.co.uk
So car, train or ferry for ebike travelling.

I was just wondering what the customs says when they scan you battery pack?


I imagine a 1000wh battery under a x-ray scanner must look like a bomb. And it could be one! I was wondering if I may have a risk of being seized with such a big lipo pack lol
 
JuicyBike

JuicyBike

Trade Member
Jan 26, 2009
1,671
527
Derbyshire
I had a customer recently who does travel with her bike regularly, by plane. She needs it as a "mobility aid" and so the airline accepts it. I can't confirm if anyone is breaking the law, but can confirm her need for mobility.
However, the bike was in for repair (not a Juicy Bike I hasten to add) because the airline had damaged it...
 
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Cakey

Esteemed Pedelecer
Mar 4, 2012
287
3
You cannot fly with lithium , unless it has all the hazmat certificates. It then has to be enclosed in the bike or in a special carton full of vermiculite. And the cost is around £1000 for a 20 amp battery.
Some ship with no paperwork, their risk.
If you are bored one day try ringing shipping agents , Worth a laugh . Easier shipping assault.
 
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blanche_aline

Finding my (electric) wheels
May 30, 2012
21
0
Aeugstertal/ Switzerland
So there's at least one advantage if you use NiMh batteries like Cytronex :)

I flew recently with bike and battery but even that was not hasslefree - I called the airline in advance and they said this kind is no problem, I only have to announce it at check-in and that I have to take it into the onboard-luggage - this info was (of course...) completely wrong: You have to call the airline after booking and they'll take a note (and probably check out your background etc...). As I haven't done this I ended up arguing over an hour with up to 4 airline representatives. They were very helpful though, just didn't want to take the responsability.... I on the other hand tried to stay cool, as I didn't want them to take a closer look at my bike. As the airline doesn't transport e-bikes per rule I stated my bike as normal bike and the battery as accessory for a different bike.
I had the products safety sheet (10pages...) with me and there it was all so clearly stated; the problem was that this sheet could have been written by onyone and it was impossible to undoubtedly link that sheet to the battery. And then they found an UN-Number for hazmat-transportation (that got valid on Jan. 2012 but only applied on shipcargo and a load over 100kg, but eh- there's a number...). Well, this number was not listed by the IATA (how could it be as NiMh- batteries are listed as non-hazmat by the IATA) but they spent an hour on the phone to check it nevertheless...
In the end I could check-in the battery safely packed in one of these padded isolationcovers for drinking bottles.
 
Last edited:
JuicyBike

JuicyBike

Trade Member
Jan 26, 2009
1,671
527
Derbyshire
The IATA show a useful document. See page 11 for Mobility aid exclusions.
It's clear the battery must have passed stringent tests and so carriage isn't guaranteed without lots of paperwork.
IMO there is little point in even trying to find loopholes. Why compromise the safety of a whole plane or risk a very large fine?
 
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cwah

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 3, 2011
3,048
179
www.whatonlondon.co.uk
Actually Nimh can also catch fire on the wrong condition. So I suppose they may also be forbidden in planes.

I'm not a mobility aid person, I just have interest in bringing the bike with me when I travel. Of course, if bringing it to plane is going to cost £1000, I better buy a new pack directly there lol.

So train, bus, car and boat only for ebike travelling...
 
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Davanti

Esteemed Pedelecer
Mar 10, 2012
310
0
cwah said:
Actually Nimh can also catch fire on the wrong condition. So I suppose they may also be forbidden in planes.

So train, bus, car and boat only for ebike travelling...
Click to expand...
You could always cycle ... lol
 
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cwah

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 3, 2011
3,048
179
www.whatonlondon.co.uk
Noooo... I'm having so much fun on my electric bike.

Cycling is for me like... doing exercice!! I don't like that lol
 
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eddieo

Banned
Jul 7, 2008
5,070
6
where are you thinking of going? You can hire e bikes in many locations.....

You can hire in Lithuania, Malta, Spain, Italy and Jersey for a start

Kalkhoff and haibike in the Canaries
 
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John in DC

Finding my (electric) wheels
Jan 12, 2012
15
0
According to this TSA site, things may not be as glum as this thread suggests.

Safe Travel

For reference purposes, 25 grams ELC (equivalent lithium content) is generally equated with 300 watt-hours worth of battery. Unless I am mistaken, 300 watt-hours is well within the "norm" for most off-the-shelf consumer grade e-bikes isn't it? If so, does this assuage most of the concerns voiced in this thread?

Can anyone provide their further thoughts on this?

Rgds...

- John


Cakey said:
You cannot fly with lithium , unless it has all the hazmat certificates. It then has to be enclosed in the bike or in a special carton full of vermiculite. And the cost is around £1000 for a 20 amp battery.
Some ship with no paperwork, their risk.
If you are bored one day try ringing shipping agents , Worth a laugh . Easier shipping assault.
Click to expand...
 
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benjy_a

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jul 25, 2009
417
26
John in DC said:
According to this TSA site, things may not be as glum as this thread suggests.

Safe Travel

For reference purposes, 25 grams ELC (equivalent lithium content) is generally equated with 300 watt-hours worth of battery. Unless I am mistaken, 300 watt-hours is well within the "norm" for most off-the-shelf consumer grade e-bikes isn't it? If so, does this assuage most of the concerns voiced in this thread?

Can anyone provide their further thoughts on this?

Rgds...

- John
Click to expand...

Most common off the shelf is 36v 10Ah....360Wh
 
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cwah

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 3, 2011
3,048
179
www.whatonlondon.co.uk
my bike is very power hungry, I'm using around 20wh/km so I tend to have 592 wh battery lol. Because it's lipo, it's still quite light at 4kg.

I don't have specific destination yet, but last time I went to Barcelona by plane, bringing my bike seemed to be an impossible task

ps: I know I can rent bike there, but none of them are as cool as mine ;)
 
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eddieo

Banned
Jul 7, 2008
5,070
6
My mate Syd drives from Sunderland to Alicante (about 300 km further south of Barcelona) in 24 hrs...
 
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