Everyone  enjoys going on holiday and with modern lightweight folding scooters a holiday can be more enjoyable knowing you can take your scooter with you. However, airlines have strict regulations that you must follow when travelling by air with a lithium-ion battery.  

What is a lithium-ion battery and why are there strict regulations?

Lithium-ion batteries are smaller and lighter in construction but are more powerful than ordinary batteries. They are common in lap top computers, mobile phones and many household products . However, to power a mobility scooter the battery needs to be more powerful than those found in lap tops or mobile phones. High powered batteries are a concern to the airlines which is why they have restricted their size and they can be a fire risk if not treated correctly.

What size of battery is allowed?

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations state that you allowed to travel with 1 battery up to 300 Wh output. If you need to take a spare battery you will need to check if this is permissible . However, not all airlines operate the same policy so check with your airline before booking your holiday. You do not want your planned trip to run into problems on arrival at the airport. It is also advisable to contact the airline 48 hrs before departure to advise them of your scooter and arrange for assistance passing though the airport and boarding 

What is a Wh?

The letters Wh stand for watt hours and the higher the number displayed the higher the battery output.

How can I check the size of my battery?

Remove the battery from the scooter and on the side look for the number show alongside the letters Wh . The Relync R1 is supplied with a 214 Wh Lithium battery which is below the permitted size and meets the regulations

Do I need to take anything else with me when checking in at the airport?

Yes – If you purchased your scooter with a lithium battery you should have been given certificates called Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and  a UN38.3 battery compliance certificate  to show that when the battery was manufactured it passed all the relevant safety tests . Take a copy of these with you

General advice from the CAA – Before boarding.

• Tape over any bare terminals
• Put the battery into a separate strong polythene bag and then into a protective pouch or bag 
• Take a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and the battery compliance certificate ( UN38.3) with you 
• Carry with you into the passenger cabin. 
• Unless instructed to do so the battery should not to be placed in the hold with checked bags. 
• Store in the cabin as instructed by cabin crew.