Australian postal service bans lithium battery air lifts
Summary
Topics
The batteries have been classified as dangerous, leading the International Civil Aviation Organization to enact more stringent controls. This follows on the exploding laptop batteries debacle of 2006, prompting a recall, and further recalls in 2008 and 2009.
Lithium batteries may still be sent by road, but only if they are lithium-ion and rated for 2 grams, 100-Watt-hours or under.
Most devices should fall under this requirement, although in the official document (PDF) Australia Post mentions that "Equipment will not be safe to send if it contains more than two batteries/four cells" — six-cell batteries being common in laptops.
A customer is also required to attach a "Road Transport Only" sticker to the package, although Australia Post does not guarantee its arrival if remote locations can only be reached by air. Air carriers scan mail for dangerous goods, and any packages containing lithium batteries will be rejected.
This has potential run-on effects for those who import electronic products from overseas to bypass Australia's often higher priced goods. Australians will also not be able to send offending products overseas, and those who wish to send electronic gifts over long distances but still within the country will have to be sent early, to make up for the additional road transport time.
This article was originally posted on ZDNet Australia.
Talkback Most Recent of 5 Talkback(s)
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I'm sick and tired of all the snakes, er, Lions on this plane!
Weird, as it is very unusual for the Austrailian government to wildly overreact to things.
EMonkIA30th Jul 2009 -
The Aussies always overact
Their government has virtually banned the private ownership of firearms for years, just like the Brits. Overreaction is a way of life to the rulers of Australia. I think it goes way back to their origins as a penal colony, which is why they typically treat their citizens as if each was a convict.
nikacat31st Jul 2009 -
I'm glad I don't drive a Prius...
Amusingly, do a web search for "Prius customer". The very first link might just be this one:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/toyota_prius.html
Trash. Not that I'm surprised... not to mention it's not the method of transport as much as it is driving habits that determine the best method to use. (Highway driving is the forte of gas vehicles. City-only driving is where a hybrid might become truly cost-effective in the long run. Until the warranty runs out or replacement batteries or other potential issues...)
HypnoToad7230th Jul 2009 -
RE: Australian postal service bans lithium battery air lifts
I wonder if the airplanes themselves have Lithium batteries in such devices as: emergency beacons, life rafts, etc.
What about shipments containing Lithium batteries that are not active? That is, they have a seal or sticker over the terminals. The ones that overheated were in use. I believe the American FAA authorities say that it's OK to have Lithium batteries in checked and carry-on baggage if the ends are taped making them inactive. This makes much more sense than the total Australian ban.
Terry Thomas...
the photographer
Atlanta, Georgia USA
www.TerryThomasPhotos.com
AtlantaTerry31st Jul 2009 -
RE: Australian postal service bans lithium battery air lifts
Sounds like a typical democratic gov't regulatory overreaction - which is nonetheless effectively supported, if not demanded, by "public opinion". Contemporary societies all around the world, especially in the more-developed countries, seem to have great difficulty dealing with Risk on anything like a rational basis. Let's keep this in mind, next time any of us is tempted - either implicitly or explicitly - to seek "protection" by our gov't for some newly-prominent scary situation!
wwohler14th Aug 2009
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