Look around—lithium batteries are everywhere these days. They power your laptops, cameras, mobile telephones, and many other devices. Lithium batteries probably power the device you use for reading this post right now. Can you believe that?
But despite their omnipresence, people often ask us how to properly ship these lithium-ion batteries. The reality is that there are a few restrictions since these lithium batteries fall in Class 9 Hazardous Material.
Nonetheless, you can still perform lithium battery shipments if your shipments comply with the rules. If you like to learn more about the process of shipping lithium batteries, keep reading!
What are lithium batteries?
Lithium-ion batteries are often seen in small electric devices like cameras, mobile phones, laptop computers, and gardening tools. These batteries are often made precisely for the device they are found in and can be expensive to find replacements.
Hence, such batteries and their devices are what many relocators wish to take with them to their new country.
Types of lithium battery
You will find two significant lithium batteries: lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries. Both these types of batteries have similarities, but the differences are remarkable.
Lithium metal batteries have metallic lithium and are non-rechargeable. They have lithium compounds or lithium metal as an anode.
Meanwhile, lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable, and only lithium is present in the electrolyte in the ionic form. Given in the lithium-ion category are lithium polymer batteries.
Which products have lithium batteries?
In case you didn’t know yet, lithium metal batteries are often seen in cameras, calculators, watches, defibrillators, and car key fobs. On the other hand, lithium-ion batteries are seen in products like electronic bikes, power tools, tablets, laptops, phones, and more.
What are the requirements to mail lithium-ion battery devices?
Wondering what the requirements you need to follow when shipping lithium batteries are? Here’s what you need to know.
Requirements of the packaging for lithium-ion batteries
Like all metal objects and hazardous materials, shipping lithium-ion batteries comes down to proper packaging. The main point is that no batteries can come into contact with other batteries during battery shipment.
Inner packaging
Inner packaging will help avoid the batteries from moving during air transport. Regulations with carriers such as UPS oblige packaging batteries in fully enclosed, non-conductive material. Exposed terminals on batteries should be protected with non-conductive caps, tapes, or similar protective means.
Inner packaging packing instructions must be placed in a container made from metal, plastic, fiberboard, or wood.
Outer packaging
The outer packaging must involve rigid packaging. Packages must be sturdy enough and of adequate size to avoid crushing the package or exposure to the contents during handling. Also, outer packaging materials are considered performance packaging.
That indicates they’re made, tested, and constructed to particular standards to guarantee durability for hazardous goods during transportation.
Requirements of the label needed to ship lithium-ion batteries.
The proper labels on your lithium-ion cells indicate the hazardous content being shipped. Here is crucial material you need to know:
UN 3480 & UN 3481
UN 3480 symbolizes the package contains batteries not being shipped along with other goods. The UN 3481 label indicates the package has batteries or is packaged with equipment.
Shipping label instructions
The shipping label must meet strong durability standards for different climate environments and conditions.
The shipping label instructions must include how batteries or cells are individually packaged, mode of transportation, the number of cells or batteries, total watt-hours, and total package weight.
What documentation is required to send lithium-ion batteries?
When shipping lithium batteries to international locations, the shipper should give proper documentation to describe the dangerous goods.
Here are the documents you need to provide:
Waybill
This is a document containing details about the contents of the shipment and its shipment type nature. It’s a contract between the carrier and shipper through sea or air. It also has an address air waybill number.
Shipper Declaration of Dangerous Goods (DGD)
A DGD is a form for shipping dangerous goods. It should be correctly completed and attached to shipments containing the following details:
· Contact details and address of the shipper and consignee
· Transport details
· Proper shipping name of the dangerous goods
· UN number
· Quantity
· 24-hour emergency contact details
· If dangerous goods are non-radioactive or radioactive
· Dangerous goods group
· Net weight of goods and total shipment weight
· Hazard class or division
Lithium battery safety document
This document must be completed for air or ground shipments. It also states that the package being shipped contains lithium cells and batteries.
Is it possible to ship lithium batteries overseas?
You can do so, but only if they’re pre-installed in the equipment. That means you can’t remove the rechargeable installed batteries from the item without opening it up. Good examples of these are power banks and other electronic devices.
For other products, such as power tools with lithium batteries installed, and you can remove them, you cannot shop for those batteries because there are safety regulations to be followed.
Some examples are laptops, portable speakers, video game consoles, controllers, and electric shaving razors.
How do I send lithium-ion batteries overseas?
· Shipping Lithium-Ion Batteries with FedEx
FedEx provides shipping batteries by sea, ground, or air. They can’t ship them with International or Same-Day offers. Also, there are limitations to transporting lithium batteries to Hawaii and Alaska, along with many international destinations.
· Shipping Lithium-Ion Batteries with DHL
As the shipper, you’re responsible for the safe shipping process with DHL. They will not shop for damaged, faulty, or recalled batteries. They also don’t accept all types of lithium batteries.
· Shipping Lithium-Ion Batteries with UPS
UPS also restricts recalled, defective, or damaged lithium batteries to ground transportation. Shippers wanting to ship such batteries should be pre-approved by the company. Also, they won’t accept batteries for 48 American states, excluding Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Alaska.
· Shipping a Lithium Battery by Ocean Freight.
If you want to ship your lithium batteries through sea freight, ensure your packaging complies with the IMDG (International Maritime Dangerous Goods) code. You should get a copy of the code from the International Maritime Organization to review the regulations in the IMDG code.
10 Tips for Safely Sending Batteries by Mail
To ensure you are following the dangerous goods regulations and the shipping restrictions, here are ten tips you must keep in mind.
1. Label the shipment to make it clear it contains dangerous goods or lithium metal cells or batteries
2. Pad the device in the package lithium batteries to prevent movement that might result in incidental activation
3. Make sure there are no defective batteries or faulty batteries.
4. Do not store the batteries in extreme heat.
5. Place a protective covering on the switches of any device with those batteries to avoid activation
6. Stop turning on devices with installed batteries while it’s being shipped
7. Keep the batteries away from other dangerous metal objects, which may cause short circuits.
8. Pack every battery in enclosed interior packaging to safeguard the terminals
9. Cover the terminals with insulating, non-conductive materials
FAQs about shipping Lithium Batteries
Do you have more questions unanswered on how to ship lithium batteries? Below are some of the answers to your commonly asked questions.
Q: How do you ship lithium batteries for shipping?
Portable consumer electronics with batteries are classified as dangerous goods and must follow particular packaging and shipping regulations.
Ensure you label the shipment to make it clear it has dangerous goods or lithium batteries.
Q: Can I ship a lithium battery?
Yes, you can still ship lithium batteries by air, sea, or ground. But in most cases, you can mail packages with batteries domestically or internationally from your local post office. However, if you demand to make an international shipment, it’s recommended to have it certified by a specialized company. if you don’t know how to start and don’t have the import right. Contact DFH to handle all for you. you need only one click and send an inquiry to DFH, then all the next steps of shipping Lithium Batteries from China to your destination will be done by us.
Q: Can I ship the lithium batteries with FedEx?
Yes, you can. However, they should be correctly packaged to avoid any damage. Lithium batteries could be shipped through FedEx Express. But services in original packaging must not exceed 100-watt hours per package. Need to know details of FEDEX requirements for Batteries Shipping.Click here.
Q: Can you send lithium-ion batteries by UPS?
Yes, UPS with domestic and international air shipping and express shipping services for Lithium Batteries. Want to know more detailed requirements of UPS shipping batteries? Contact us to get a quote right now.
Q: Can I send a lithium battery through the mail?
If you’re only sending these batteries domestically, you can do so. But you won’t be allowed to send them through the mail if you’re sending them internationally.
Q: How will it cost me to ship lithium batteries by USPS?
The cost of shipping lithium batteries by USPS will be based on the weight of the package and the destination. from 2021 till now, USPS’s cost to ship lithium batteries has been $5.80 – $7.80 per kg based on charge weights.
Q: Can you get in trouble for shipping lithium batteries?
Lithium battery ships are dangerous items, and the Lithium Battery Shipping Regulations govern regulations to comply with them. Failure to comply with this law may lead to hefty fines up to $200,000 (LBSR 1.3).
Q: Can you send batteries in the mail internationally?
Yes, you can mail batteries internationally. But you must package them so they do not touch each other or any metal objects. Ensure the mailing label is clear and does not cover anything on the battery. Packaging must also include all the crucial details, like who’s sending it and where it is going, to name a few.
Q: How do I ship a large lithium battery internationally?
Ensure you pack every battery in a fully-enclosed interior pack to safeguard every terminal. Ensure you do not put heavy objects on the packaged lithium batteries. It will help if you keep it away from other metals, which may cause a short circuit. After packaging, contact a Lithium Battery shipper to handle your shipments.
Also, avoid turning on devices with installed lithium batteries while on the passenger aircraft.
Q: How do I send a DHL lithium battery overseas?
To send a DHL lithium battery overseas, you must complete a Dangerous Goods Declaration form. You can find this form on the DHL website. You will also need to include a copy of your order confirmation or invoice. While to help you to save the cost and time of Ship Lithium batteries by DHL, you can contact this battery shipping agent to let them handle everything for you.
Q: Can you ship a lithium polymer battery?
Yes, we can. We can help you handle any kind of batteries shipments from China worldwide. to Make things simple. You need only Click here and send the inquiry. Then can get the battery’s shipping price within hours.
Q: Can I ship a laptop with a lithium battery?
Yes, you can ship a laptop with a lithium battery. However, it is important to follow the requirements for shipping lithium batteries outlined by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). These requirements include packing the battery in a special container and clearly labeling the package as containing a lithium battery.
Q: Can FedEx ship items with lithium batteries?
FedEx Express will remain to receive lithium batteries packaged or contained with equipment through the air. Nevertheless, their new policy will need the applicable UN3091 and UN3481 to be contained within the package next to the lithium battery handling label.
Final Thoughts
That’s where DFH Global Logistics can help. If you have any concerns about shipping your batteries and electronics or other items containing Batteries, do not waver to call our team, who will be glad to help you.
We provide a wide array of shipping services for any kind of battery by air or sea. Get in touch today to make all your batteries shipment get one-stop solution and let yourself get more time on grow the business.
