UN 38.3 is the section of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria that a lithium-ion cell or battery must pass before it can be offered for transport, and from 2020 carriers have been entitled to ask for a written test summary rather than taking a supplier's word for it. For an electric motorcycle or scooter shipment, that test summary is only the starting point. The freight forwarder will also want a safety data sheet, the correct UN number and packing instruction, Class 9 labelling and, in most cases, a Dangerous Goods declaration. Whether the pack travels on its own or installed inside the vehicle changes almost every one of those documents.

What does UN 38.3 actually test?

The section defines eight tests, usually labelled T1 to T8, covering altitude simulation, thermal cycling, vibration, shock, external short circuit, impact or crush, overcharge and forced discharge. The point is not to certify performance or cycle life; it is to show that the design will not vent, rupture or ignite under the mechanical and thermal stresses of normal transport. A battery can have an excellent cycle-life specification and still fail a transport test.

Tests are performed on cells and on batteries at the design level, and the resulting test summary must identify the specific cell or battery model, its watt-hour rating, the test laboratory, the date and edition of the Manual used, and a signature from an authorised person. A generic certificate that names only a cell chemistry, such as NMC or LFP, is not a test summary for the pack in your container.

• T1 altitude simulation and T2 thermal test cover pressure and temperature extremes.
• T3 vibration and T4 shock simulate road and handling loads.
• T5 external short circuit, T6 impact/crush, T7 overcharge and T8 forced discharge cover abuse conditions.

Which UN number applies to an Electric Scooter shipment?

Three cases come up repeatedly. A battery shipped by itself is UN3480, lithium-ion batteries. A Battery Packed together with the equipment it powers, but not installed, is UN3481. A battery installed inside the vehicle, which is how a complete electric scooter or Motorcycle normally travels, is also UN3481 under the contained-in-equipment provisions. Lithium-metal cells use the parallel UN3090 and UN3091 numbers, but traction packs for electric two-wheelers are almost always lithium-ion.

The distinction changes the packing instruction, the marking on the outer package and, for air freight, the state-of-charge limits. Standalone batteries offered by air are generally restricted to a State of Charge of no more than 30 percent, whereas batteries installed in equipment may be shipped at a higher charge subject to the applicable packing instruction and airline approval. Sea freight under the IMDG Code and road freight under ADR have their own thresholds and documentation, so never assume a document set prepared for one mode is valid for another.

What paperwork should a forwarder receive?

A clean document set contains the UN 38.3 test summary for the exact cell and pack, a current safety data sheet, the dangerous goods declaration in the form required by the mode, the packing instruction reference, package marking and Class 9 Lithium Battery labels, and the commercial invoice showing the watt-hour rating and battery count. For assembled vehicles, add a statement that the batteries are installed in equipment and that the vehicle is protected against inadvertent activation.

Request these documents before booking space, not after the container is at the terminal. Carriers apply their own acceptance rules on top of the Regulations, and a missing test summary is one of the most common reasons a booking is rejected or rolled to the next sailing. Our LZ2000 EEC electric motorcycle and DDC-1500 EEC model pages show the kind of Battery Specification detail that should be consistent with the transport paperwork.

Requirements vary by carrier, mode and destination. Confirm the current edition of IATA DGR, IMDG Code or ADR with your forwarder before each shipment.

Who is responsible for the declaration?

The shipper named on the transport document is responsible for classifying, packaging, marking and declaring the goods correctly, even when a freight forwarder prepares the forms. Outsourcing the paperwork does not transfer the legal responsibility. That is why an importer buying on FOB or EXW terms should still audit the battery documents rather than assuming the seller or forwarder has everything covered.

In practice, split the task. The cell or pack manufacturer supplies the UN 38.3 test summary and safety data sheet; the vehicle assembler confirms how the battery is installed and protected against short circuit and accidental start-up; the forwarder or a certified dangerous goods specialist prepares the declaration for the chosen mode. Ask each party for its piece and check that model numbers and watt-hour ratings agree across all of them.

What are the most common mistakes?

The first is a test summary for the cell only, with no summary covering the assembled battery pack. The second is a summary whose model number does not match the pack label, often because the supplier changed cell vendor mid-production. The third is confusing UN3480 with UN3481 on a vehicle shipment, which cascades into the wrong packing instruction and label. The fourth is an out-of-date safety data sheet, which many carriers will reject if it is more than a few years old.

A fifth, quieter problem is documentation that was prepared for sea freight being reused for an air shipment of sample vehicles. Sample logistics are where importers most often hit a state-of-charge or packaging problem, because a single scooter sent by courier is still dangerous goods. Treat the sample with the same document discipline as the container.

Frequently asked questions

Is a UN 38.3 certificate the same as a CE certificate?

No. UN 38.3 is a transport safety test under the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, relevant to moving the battery. CE Marking is a conformity declaration under EU product legislation. A scooter shipment normally needs both: transport documents for the battery and, for the charger and other electrical components, CE documentation.

Does a UN 38.3 test summary expire?

The summary itself does not usually carry an expiry date, but it becomes unusable if the cell or pack design, the manufacturing site or the rated capacity changes, or if the regulatory edition moves on. Carriers may also require a recent SDS. Re-request both whenever the battery model changes.

Can I ship an electric scooter with the battery installed?

Yes, in most cases, under the UN3481 contained-in-equipment provisions and the applicable packing instruction, provided the battery is protected against short circuit and the vehicle cannot be switched on accidentally. Air freight has additional conditions and airline acceptance rules, so confirm the specific routing in writing.

What is the 30 percent state-of-charge rule?

For standalone lithium-ion batteries shipped by air, the state of charge is generally limited to no more than 30 percent of rated capacity under the applicable IATA provisions. Batteries installed in equipment are treated differently. Always check the current DGR and the airline's own variations.

Who signs the dangerous goods declaration?

The shipper, or an agent formally authorised by the shipper, signs it. A forwarder may fill in the form, but the shipper remains accountable for correct classification, packaging and marking. Build a document check into the purchase order rather than relying on the forwarder to chase missing papers.

Key takeaways

• UN 38.3 is a transport safety test, distinct from product conformity or type approval.
• Identify whether the pack is UN3480 standalone or UN3481 packed-with / contained-in equipment before choosing packaging.
• The test summary must name the exact cell and pack model, not just the chemistry.
• Mode-specific rules matter: IATA DGR, IMDG Code and ADR are not interchangeable.
• The shipper remains legally responsible for the declaration even when a forwarder prepares the forms.

Battery logistics are one of those areas where a small documentation gap turns into a delayed sailing or a rolled air booking. Build the checklist above into the purchase order, audit it again whenever a cell supplier changes, and treat sample shipments with the same care as containers. Related reading: CE Marking vs EEC Homologation explains how the same packs are treated under EU product legislation, and EU Batteries Regulation 2023/1542 covers the port and customs paperwork around a vehicle shipment. Questions about a specific model can go to the technical enquiry channel.