Are there any special requirements when it comes to shipping hybrid and electric vehicles overseas? That’s a question that we get a lot from people. High gas prices and concerns for the environment have driven a lot of people towards electric and hybrid cars. In 2021, the sale of hybrid cars in the country increased by 67%. It’s not surprising, therefore that many of these vehicles end up being shipped to international destinations from the United States. The most popular EV and hybrid car brands in the U.S include Tesla, Toyota and VW. In this article, we are going to discuss what you need to know about shipping your EV overseas.
Why special care is needed when shipping hybrid and electric cars overseas
Special care needs to be taken when it comes to shipping a hybrid or an electric car overseas. But why is that the case? That’s mostly because there is a chance of fire breaking out if things are not done properly. The lithium ion battery in an EV is particularly volatile. You don’t get to hear of something going wrong that often but when it does, things can be spectacular in a particularly bad way.
To minimize the chance of something going wrong, there is need to make sure that an electric vehicle is firmly secured on the ship before shipment. That’s essential. The high seas can be rough. It’s not the most gentle of environments. The good thing is that we, at Ship Overseas, ensure that your vehicle is well secured in place before it departs on its international journey.
Another thing to consider is that hybrid and electric vehicles are expensive. Once you have made the investment, you need to make sure that you have done everything in your power to protect it. That’s particularly the case when shipping the car overseas.
Options for shipping electric vehicles and hybrids
How are electric vehicles transported to international destinations? The options that are available are similar to those available for all other types of vehicles;
RoRo shipping
RoRo stands for roll on, roll off. It’s a form of transportation where a vehicle is driven on and off a ship. The key here is that the car needs to be in good driving condition. The RoRo option is mostly used when transporting conventional vehicles. In fact, it’s the most popular way of shipping a car from one country to the next.
When it comes to transporting EVs and hybrids, RoRo can be fraught with regulation. We have already noted that fires from EVs can be devastating. As a result, there are a lot of regulations governing their shipping. You will need to fill out a lot more paperwork before your car can depart for its destination.
Container shipping
Container shipping is probably a better option if you don’t want to jump through hoops to get your car to its destination. That’s because you don’t have to fill out a lot more paperwork. Fires in containers are not as devastating as they are in open spaces. There is little risk of such a fire spreading to other containers.
As such, there is less regulation on EVs that are being shipped in containers. Talk to us about the option to transport your car in a container. We offer a number of options, including shared containers. That’s a cheaper option because you will be sharing the cost with others.
Important steps to take when shipping electric and hybrid cars
So, what is it that you need to keep in mind when shipping hybrid and electric vehicles to an overseas destination? The following are some of the important steps that you need to take as part of the process of ensuring that your precious investment arrives at its destination in the best of conditions;
1. Charge the vehicle
It’s a well known fact that batteries die if they are fully discharged. It’s also known that a battery gradually loses its power even when it is not being used. That’s something that you need to keep in mind when it comes to shipping your EV to an overseas destination.
To protect your car, you need to make sure that its battery is charged to a level that will last the duration of the journey. Let’s assume, as an example, that you wish to ship your hybrid or EV to Germany from the United States. Transit times from the East Coast tend to be around 15 days, while those from the West Coast can be up to 30 days.
So, you need to make sure that the battery on your car has enough charge to last those times. In fact, there should be enough power in there to go way beyond the stated transit times. The high seas can be wild, and there is no telling what delays may be encountered along the way.
2. Make sure that your vehicle is fully secured
This is something that we have already mentioned. Hybrid cars need to be fully secured before shipment overseas. This, to some degree is beyond your hands. What you need to do is to hire a reputation overseas car shipping company like Ship Overseas.
We have the expertise to make sure that your EV or hybrid is secured fully on the ship. This ensures that your priced possession arrives at its destination in one piece. It also minimizes the chances of damage to other goods being shipped alongside your vehicle.
3. Be ready to pay more
Hybrid cars weight a lot, largely due to their batteries. They are also more expensive, as we have already noted. Both factors contribute to an increase in shipping costs for EVs and hybrids. Even where insurance is concerned, you will need to pay more because hybrids and EVs tend to be more expensive than normal cars.
4. Clean your vehicle
This tip is standard when it comes to shipping any type of vehicle overseas. You need to make sure that your car is fully cleaned, both on the inside and on the outside. If you ship a dirty car, you may encounter delays at the destination port, where you will be forced to have a proper job done due to fears of biocontamination.
5. Don’t leave valuables in the car
Again, this is a tip that applies not just to hybrid and electric vehicles, but to whatever the type of vehicle you may be shipping. You should never leave valuables in the vehicle that you are shipping. That can needlessly attract thieves to the car. Along the way your car will be handled by a lot of people. Don’t give the unscrupulous among them a change to benefit at your expense.