I am heading to Panama for retirement! and am considering an e-bike. However, I am hitting a brick wall trying to find a reasonable method of shipping a bike there. Due to the Li battery, when I contact shippers like FedX, DHL, UPS, the responses range from "cannot do it" to charges of $3K, which can often exceed the original cost of the bike. As I understand it, the >100 Watt hour ratings do not allow the batteries to go on passenger flights. How is it that these bikes can come from overseas locations and not add these significant shipping costs into the cost of the bike? One of the reputable e-bike retailers I contacted would not disclose battery info sufficient to properly ship the bike (i.e., hazardous material UN number, I understand it is UN3480). As I understand it, even if you are shipping by air within the US, proper labeling requires the identification of this information and that the shipper be IATA certified, which allows the battery to be shipped by air. Maybe they only ship by land because of this? Can anyone help with this? If there are any readers of this thread that are e-bike suppliers, you have a great business potential in Panama - lots of retirees and great biking weather. Any experiences with shippers by sea?
International Shipping of an E-bike
- Thread starter Wiseguy
- Start date
Forget shipping. Too slow, and hard to get battery certification. Have you checked out services such as MyUS.com? I reckon they could air freight your E-bike to Panama. When you get there, and you've settled on a bike model, pick a seller that offers free US shipping, send it to MyUS in Florida, who forward the box to you in Panama. Their couriers even handle the customs clearance - you may need to pay an import duty when the bike lands in-country. You might first want to check what taxes, duties and charges apply to E-bikes imported to Panama?
Leandro
Member
The best solution would be to find a local shipping broker that can help in providing you with a freight carrier and rate for your shipment. There are plenty of freight carriers that can be used such as XPO Logistics, Duie Pyle, FedEx Freight, New England Motor Freight, New Penn, Estes, and Vision Express just to name a few.
You can also look into freight forwarders, who specialize in shipping items abroad.
steve marino
Active Member
I know this is an old thread, but I just wanted to mention that they get the electric bikes and batteries over by container ships. No problems sending a lithium battery that way.
Thanks for your input Steve. In fact, I have been successful in getting an FLX here by way of a container ship. It took about 2 months and cost about $500 but I got it - no regrets by the way, great bike, lots of power. Thanks again.
Indeed, I ended up going with a freight forwarder and successfully got an e-bike here. Thanks. Not sure why, but I just saw your response.
Tevin Browne
New Member
Hello. I'm trying to get a Rad City to Barbados. I'm going to have to use a freight forwarder too but my only concern is that damage due to shipping isn't supported by Rad if you use a freight forwarder. How did you handle issues of potential damage when you forwarded your bike?
Tevin: I just took my chances although the freight forwarder has been in business for awhile and I use them all the time. I suspect you could purchase insurance but if Rad City people do a good job in packing, you will probably be ok. I have friends who have since two additional e-bikes to here and again, both were fine. Good luck.
Similar threads
