The ABCs of Electric Bike Shipping

While manufacturers can easily ship ebikes to customers, finding ways to ship an ebike on your own is far more complicated. Battery shipping regulations can be difficult to understand and they vary from carrier to carrier. Most shipping companies like UPS or FedEx will only transport batteries by ground or rail, making shipping to states like Hawaii nearly impossible. There are also requirements for specific labels and warnings that you need to adhere to.

In addition, federal regulations limit the types of batteries you can ship, and many ebike batteries are simply too big to ship using the usual methods. Plus, ebike shipping can cost hundreds of dollars. Then there’s the hassle of packaging the ebike safely so that it won’t get damaged during transport.Learn more about the ABCs of electric bike shipping, including the different options for domestic and international delivery. We’ll cover frequently asked questions and go over:

• 1. Aventon Electric Bike Shipping
• 2. What to Know About Shipping an Electric Bike Battery
• 3. Electric Bike Shipping Domestically
• 4. Packaging an Electric Bike Battery
• 5. What’s the Best Way to Transport Electric Bikes?
• 6. Internationally Shipping an Ebike
• 7. Do Airlines Allow Ebikes?
• 8. Ebike Shipping Like an Expert

Aventon Electric Bike Shipping

Aventon ships ebikes to all addresses within the contiguous United States. While Aventon does not offer ebike shipping to Alaska or Hawaii, they do have bike shops in those states that sell their ebikes, without the need for cross-border or overseas shipping.

Aventon’s shipping policy offers delivery free of charge for orders over $100. If you choose to take advantage of the Aventon return policy, you’ll need to pay the shipping costs to return the item.

Shipping electric bikes internationally is not possible due to strict carrier regulations on high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. Read on to learn more about Aventon shipping policies including where they ship from and how long electric bike delivery takes.

Where Do Aventon Bikes Ship From?

Aventon ebikes are assembled and shipped from the headquarters in Southern California. When you order an Aventon ebike, it’ll ship from Brea, California.

How Long Does Aventon Take to Ship?

Aventon processing times of in-stock ebikes can take up to five days before they ship. The company uses FedEx and USPS for their electric bike transport, and shipping times vary depending on location and carrier.

How Fast Is Aventon Shipping?

Aventon shipping times vary depending on processing times, the carrier, and where the item is being sent. Once your ebike leaves the warehouse, you’ll get an email notifying you that your bike is on the way.

Does Aventon Offer Electric Bike Free Shipping?

Yes, Aventon offers free ebike shipping to addresses within the 48 continental United States.

Does Aventon Ship to Canada?

While Aventon only ships to the contiguous United States, the company has several bike shops in Canada, including in cities like Edmonton, Calgary, and Winnipeg. Aventon works with a Canadian distributor to deliver bikes to riders across Canada. Riders can reach out to a bike shop near them to purchase a bike in-person or get more details on how to buy an Aventon ebike in Canada.

What to Know About Shipping an Electric Bike Battery

Here’s the scoop on ebike battery shipping regulations and why there’s necessary precautions when it comes to transporting lithium-ion batteries.

First off, it’s important to know what a lithium-ion battery is. A lithium-ion battery is a rechargeable battery that stores large amounts of energy. It’s the heart of your electric bike and the power behind its augmented momentum. All Aventon lithium-ion batteries are TUV certified in compliance with the UL2849 standard. 

With that said, because of the battery’s capacity to store energy, if not used or handled properly, it could become hazardous. That’s why certain safeguards have been put in place by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to ensure the safety of passenger and cargo planes alike. All Aventon ebike batteries are shipped via ground service. So if you plan on transporting or shipping yours, check with airlines to make sure they allow lithium-ion batteries onboard.

According to the IATA, all lithium-ion batteries have to be shipped at a state of charge (SoC) not exceeding 30% of their rated capacity. Batteries at an SoC of greater than 30% may only be shipped with the approval of the State of Origin and the State of the Operator under the written conditions established by those authorities.

How Do You Deliver an Ebike?

If you need to deliver an ebike to a location near you, you can transport the ebike yourself in a personal vehicle. You can use an ebike rack if the bike doesn’t fit in your vehicle.

If you're unable to deliver the ebike yourself, you'll want to look into shipping the electric bike with a ground shipping service, like USPS or FedEx. Be aware that the regulations surrounding shipping an electric bike battery may limit which states or countries you can deliver to. Before shipping, package the item in a sturdy bike-shipping box that will protect the frame.

How Do I Mail an Ebike?

To mail an ebike using USPS, turn off the battery and carefully pack the bike into a large, well-structured box. Remember, ebikes are heavy so you’ll want to reinforce the package so it doesn’t get damaged in transit.

USPS’s shipping policies mean you can’t ship ebikes with batteries over 100 watt-hours, and you’ll need to have a DOT-approved lithium battery label on the outside of the package.

If your battery is over 100 watt-hours, you’ll need to ship the ebike without the battery.

Since mailing an ebike yourself can be tricky, consider working with an ebike shipper that can handle the logistics for you.

How to Ship an Ebike

Do you need to ship an ebike for a vacation or a move across the country? You can ship an ebike without special certifications or carriers as long as you’re sending in between two points in the contiguous U.S. and it meets certain regulations. To ship your ebike, pack it up, bring it to a shipper like UPS or FedEx, and create a label to send it off.

UPS allows the transport of lithium-ion batteries up to 300-watt-hours within the 48 contiguous U.S. states only by rail or highway (no shipping via air or boat). These batteries have to remain installed on the ebike, and the package needs a label that says “Lithium batteries forbidden for transport aboard aircraft and vessels.”

FedEx also ships ebikes with some restrictions. For lithium-ion batteries that are less than 300 watt-hours, the package must weigh less than 66 pounds and have the same warning label required by UPS. The battery has to be wrapped in protective materials like bubble wrap and placed internally in the package to protect it from damage.

Both UPS and FedEx will only ship batteries that pass UN safety tests. Check with your carrier ahead of time to ask for their most up-to-date policies to ensure you can ship your ebike.

How Long Does It Take to Ship an Ebike?

Ebike shipping can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on where the bike is being sent. In general, most ebikes from reputable companies take three to 10 days to arrive. Ebikes from cheaper brands manufactured abroad can take several months to ship.

If you’re shipping an ebike yourself, delivery times will depend on where you’re shipping from and where the bike is going. The further the bike has to travel, the higher the cost and the more time it will take. UPS Ground shipping usually takes two to five business days, but there may be delays if the shipper needs to check safety requirements or adherence to regulations. FedEx Ground generally takes one to five days.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship an Electric Bike?

The cost of shipping an electric bike depends on where you’re shipping it, the provider you’ve chosen, and the weight of the bike. A professional bike shipping company can charge several hundred dollars to ship a bike, while carriers like UPS can be more affordable. In general, expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $500 to ship an ebike within the United States.

Can You Bring an Ebike on a Plane?

Bringing an ebike on a plane can be difficult because of the lithium-ion batteries. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has strict regulations, and each airline can establish additional rules. If you need to fly with your ebike, it’s best to contact your airline to learn more.

According to IATA rules, lithium ion batteries that are less than 160-watt-hours can be brought on the plane in carry-on or checked luggage. Batteries over 160-watt-hours have to be transported as cargo in compliance with their Dangerous Goods Regulations. Since most ebike batteries are more than 160-watt-hours, they’d need to be treated as cargo.

Electric Bike Shipping Domestically

If you plan on shipping an electric bike domestically, federal regulations require proper packaging specifications and labels for the following:

• • • ✓ Lithium-ion batteries by themselves
  • ✓ Lithium-ion batteries contained in equipment
  • ✓ Lithium-ion batteries packed with equipment

Does FedEx Ship Electric Bikes?

Yes, FedEx ships electric bikes as long as shippers abide by their lithium-ion battery rules (including limitations to 300 watt-hours, among other requirements). Since these batteries are considered dangerous goods, you can only ship an ebike using FedEx’s Express services.

Does DHL Ship Electric Bikes?

DHL may ship electric bikes as long as they adhere to international regulations. DHL only ships items that have two batteries or less and fewer than four cells. To ship with DHL, you need to apply for pre-approval.

Can UPS Ship Ebikes?

UPS ships electric bikes if the batteries are less than 300 watt-hours, the package has the required warning label, and the package doesn't weigh more than 66 pounds. UPS only ships ebikes via ground and rail transportation to the contiguous 48 U.S. states.

Packaging an Electric Bike Battery

Since electric bike batteries are considered hazardous, it’s important to remember to package them in a safe way. The packaging should be strong enough to prevent crushing or exposure to other contents during normal handling in the mail. Remember to check shipping rules on the size of the ebike battery you’re sending (most will not be allowed since they’re more than 300 watt-hours).

Batteries should be packed in non-conductive materials, like plastic bags or padded containers, and secured in a larger, sturdy box with cushioning. If there is more than one battery in a package, wrap them separately so that none of the metal connectors touch.

One of the major risks associated with the transport of batteries is that they can short-circuit when the terminals touch each other, metal objects, or conductive surfaces. Secure the batteries so they don’t shift during transport, and use non-conductive caps or tape to cover any connectors or terminals.

Please note that, at this time, Aventon does not receive returned batteries because of shipping carrier restrictions. Therefore, all battery purchases are non-returnable.

What’s the Best Way to Transport Electric Bikes?

Not only are electric bikes heavier than regular bikes, but there’s also many more components. We’ve put together a list of important things to consider when getting ready to package or ship your electric bike:

1. Get a box that is rated for electric bikes. Save the original packaging if you can! (Helpful hint: Taking photos as you remove the contents can help in the event you have to repackage or ship it again.)

2. Secure all moving parts. There should be no wiggle room or loose components.

3. By removing the handlebars from the frame of the bike you prevent them from bending or breaking.

4. Remove the front wheel. Use a cardboard separator so as not to damage the spokes or scratch the paint on the bike. A common question we receive is: “Will the tires blow up if they’re inflated?” The answer: No way!

5. By removing the pedals, you narrow the bike and prevent damage to the box and your bike.

6. Use heavy packaging materials, such as cardboard, thick styrofoam, and zip ties, to secure all moving parts.

7. Put rubber caps on axles, or anything that can prevent the metal from gouging the box or scratching the paint.

8. Secure the battery charger from bouncing around. Freight handlers tend to stack, throw, and drop boxes. More protection prevents damages.

9. Use brake pad spacers. This will prevent brakes from locking up. You can generally find these at your local bike shop.

10. Place sturdy materials along the inside edges of the box so that the shape of the box is not compromised. Internal support can prevent corners from getting smashed in and damaging the bike and its components.

Internationally Shipping an Ebike

Select Aventon products do not ship outside the continental 48 states, besides Canada, and here’s why:

International shipping may become more of a hassle than it’s worth to ship your ebike overseas should you be visiting/moving to another country or gifting it to a friend or family member. It requires a lot of documentation and red tape since each country has its own regulations. Most airlines and carriers aren’t allowed to transport lithium batteries over 100 or 160 watt-hours, limiting the ability to ship ebikes internationally.

Do Airlines Allow Ebikes?

Some airlines (like British Airways and American Airlines) ban transporting ebikes entirely, but others allow some ebikes on board. All airlines abide by IATA rules, which limit lithium-ion batteries to 160-watt-hours or less. Most ebikes have higher wattage than this, making it difficult to take an ebike on a plane.

Airlines that do allow ebikes with batteries under 160-watt-hours onboard typically require the battery to be removed from the bike and carried on as hand luggage. These airlines include Alaska Airlines and Delta.

Since flying with an ebike battery is difficult, you may want to consider other options. You can fly with the bike (and not the battery) and rent a battery at your destination. Alternatively, you can leave the ebike (and travel hassle) at home and rent an ebike at your destination.

Ebike Shipping Like an Expert

Shipping an ebike yourself can be tricky due to federal battery shipping regulations and the different shipping company requirements. Plus, it can be a hassle to pack the ebike securely, and you’ll generally have to pay high shipping fees.

If you do decide to go ahead and ship an ebike, be sure to carefully read the federal rules and understand what your shipping company requires. Pay close attention to your ebike battery manual to ensure it meets safety certifications and requirements for shipping — or just ship the ebike without the battery.

If you want to buy an ebike but don’t want to deal with the hassle of shipping, consider ordering the ebike directly from the manufacturer. They’re pros at handling delivery and have shipping logistics in place so it’s easier for them to handle.

Buy an ebike from Aventon, and let us handle your ebike delivery. We’ll package up the ebike and send it on its way, right to your front door. You’ll love the simplicity of picking a top-rated model and letting the experts handle the shipping logistics.

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