Happy new year folks,

The Mrs is pricing up an e-bike and I’m wondering if there are any implications of taking one on a plane. I’ve searched a little online and found contradicting info. Just wondering if anyone has any experince of taking one abroad? Any issues / considerations?

Cheers

James

Can you pack it under 32kg?

Is this the sequel? Who’s starring in it?

Surely Sbike on a plane would be a better working title.

Sbikes on a plane, or not as the case may be!

Looking at the model she’s looking at, I think we may just sneek in under 32kg including the case.

Is this the sequel?

That was my first thought 🙂

OP: Find out what the airline’s policy is on Li-Ion batteries – they may have to be taken as hand luggage (or not!).

I think we may just sneek in under 32kg including the case.

Remember 32kg is a hard limit. Bits have to come off and out of the bag if it’s over that – and some will have a 23kg piece concept for extra bags too.

Batteries will be a general rule but different airlines will interpret things differently – see the stupid powered bags at the moment.

I’ve mistakenly left li-ion batteries in my hold bags before and upon unpacking found I had to pay for an expensive courier service to have them repatriated. Given the potential energy contained in an e-bike battery pack, I wonder whether security / airlines are going to be comfortable with something that can be quite easily converted into an incendiary device to be allowed in the cabin?

Think of the poor baggage handlers! I reckon hiring one at the other end would be far more practical. An eBike would be like a freight item rather than a passenger oversized job.

For lithium ion batteries, depends on the capacity. If its more than 160Wh, it is not allowed, in either the hold or carry on luggage. This is a rule from the IATA, so would apply to just about all airlines.

or maybe it comes under

Powered wheelchairs and mobility aids
If you have a battery-powered wheelchair or mobility aid which you wish to take on the aircraft, you need to contact your airline to let them know. This is because battery-powered devices can be a fire risk on board aircraft, and the airline will need to disable the battery before the flight takes off.
😉

Although the battery capacity is 400wh, it consists of multiple cells so I think each cell come in under the maximum…

Sounds like it could be a lottery. Mobility aid perhaps!

Yes just checked – 36v is 10 cells of 3.6v. So each battery is only 40wh

So each battery is only 40wh

If you can carry them through individually you *might* get away with it.

If they’re bundled together into what most people would see as ‘a battery’ (ie in the same way a laptop battery is multiple cells) then you may be disappointed.

I just bought a 500w Shimano ebike battery and it was shipped from Europe with clear markings to only be carried on a cargo plane.

The sticker is brilliant

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fzT4D9Oner6WbkXE3

All batteries are made from multiple cells, is who they are linked and packaged.

take a look here…

Remember 32kg is a hard limit. Bits have to come off and out of the bag if it’s over that

It’s supposed to be, but I’ve known someone take a 38kg bike bag through once he’d produced his wallet.

What was in it? Everything!