Shipping by product · Batteries
Shipping e-bikes, scooters and lithium-battery products from China
Anything with a lithium battery is classed as dangerous goods in transport. It can still be shipped from China to the US, by sea or air, but only with the right documents, packing and labels — arranged before the goods leave the factory.
- Hazard class
- Class 9 dangerous goods
- Essential document
- UN38.3 test summary
- E-bikes usually ship
- By sea
Updated
How lithium batteries are classified
Lithium batteries are Class 9 dangerous goods. How a shipment is described depends on how the battery travels:
| UN number | Covers | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| UN3480 | Lithium-ion batteries shipped on their own | Power banks, spare batteries, battery packs |
| UN3481 | Lithium-ion batteries packed with or contained in equipment | Phones, laptops, power tools, speakers |
| UN3090 / UN3091 | Lithium metal batteries, alone or with or in equipment | Coin cells, some cameras and trackers |
| UN3171 | Battery-powered vehicles and equipment | E-bikes, e-scooters, hoverboards, electric wheelchairs |
The UN number, the battery's watt-hour rating and the quantity together decide which packing, labelling and documentation rules apply.
Documents your supplier must provide
- UN38.3 test summary. Proves the battery type has passed the UN transport safety tests. Without it, no carrier will accept the cargo.
- Safety data sheet (MSDS/SDS) for the battery.
- Battery specifications — chemistry, watt-hour rating (Wh), and the number of cells and batteries per package.
- A dangerous goods declaration where the rules require one, prepared by a trained shipper.
Sea or air?
Sea freight
Most battery products, and nearly all e-bikes and scooters, ship by sea under the IMDG Code. The container must be declared as dangerous goods and labelled accordingly, and some carriers limit how much dangerous cargo they accept per vessel. That can mean fewer sailings to choose from and a dangerous goods surcharge.
Air freight
Air rules are stricter. Lithium-ion batteries shipped on their own must be at no more than 30% state of charge, and many can travel only on cargo aircraft, not passenger flights. Large batteries such as e-bike packs are often impractical to fly at all. Products with small built-in batteries, such as phones and speakers, are routinely flown with the right documents. See air freight.
US product rules for e-bikes and scooters
Clearing customs is only part of it. E-bikes, scooters and similar products are consumer products regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and safety requirements have been tightening:
- Battery and electrical safety certification. UL 2849 for e-bikes and UL 2271 for their batteries are increasingly expected by retailers, and some cities, including New York, require certification for e-bikes sold there.
- Bicycle safety standards. Low-speed electric bicycles must meet CPSC bicycle requirements.
- Marketplace requirements. Amazon and other platforms often require proof of certification before listing, and may classify battery products as hazmat with separate storage rules.
Products with radio transmitters, such as Bluetooth or GPS modules, also need FCC authorisation. See US customs clearance for the agencies involved.
Duty and tariffs
Battery-powered products are spread across many tariff headings, and lithium-ion batteries themselves were among the products whose Section 301 tariffs increased in 2024. Check the total rate for your exact product's HTS code before ordering — see HTS codes and tariffs.
FAQ
E-bikes & battery products: common questions
The questions importers ask us before the first booking. If yours is not here, ask us directly — a real coordinator replies, not an auto-responder.
Can I ship e-bikes from China to the USA?
Yes, usually by sea as dangerous goods under UN3171. The batteries need a UN38.3 test summary, and the bikes should meet US safety requirements, including UL certification where retailers or cities require it.
Can lithium batteries be shipped by air from China?
Many can, with the right documents, packing and labels. Batteries shipped on their own must be at 30% charge or less and often need cargo-aircraft-only service. Large batteries such as e-bike packs usually go by sea.
What is a UN38.3 test report?
A summary showing that a battery type has passed the UN’s transport safety tests, covering vibration, shock, temperature, altitude and short circuit. Carriers won’t accept lithium batteries without it.
Do power banks count as dangerous goods?
Yes. Power banks are lithium-ion batteries shipped on their own (UN3480), which is the most tightly regulated category for air transport.