Can I fly on an airline with a Toyota Prius HV NiMH battery?

Maybe yes carryon if they fit in a bag that you can carry on
Travel Tips Tuesday: Safely Packing Batteries for Your Trip | Transportation Security Administration

… but the problem is always when you get a belligerent TSA agent at the check in who says no and tells you to go back or throw them in the TSA bin.
Then the other complication is when the plane is oversold and the gate agent tells you you have to check your bag through at the gate and asks you to remove all batteries.

 

I flew to Africa a few years ago with about four lithium drill batteries scattered in my luggage. Made it OK. So a couple NiMH modules shouldn't draw any comments. But that many batteries, even if they are not lithium, will draw some attention. And weigh quite a bit. Some airlines weigh the carry ons now.

 

no

 

Carry on would be risky even for me . Checked thru no issue. Dealing with humans is always risky today. Chkd thru eliminates humans and issues .

 

All checked bags also get x-rayed and the x-rays are examined by humans. Some bags are also opened for direct inspection. In fact, I one time had to explain a microwave transmitter that was in a checked bag I was bringing back to the U.S. for repairs.

 

Dealing with humans has always been risky and is usually discouraged. Just ask the HAL 9000

 

Sure all bags get scanned human inspected whatever you say bags that are checked I'm telling you now I have family in the industry if I must go there they're checked but they are much lower level security then people walking through the gates so again I stick by my statement I would have no trouble probably checking the modules in in boxes in a zippered bag with a lock that TSA can open on it even marked as NIMH batteries and there should be no issue I have a certificate that I fly with regularly because I fly with lithium ion batteries with a device called a travel scoot and it uses a very powerful lithium-ion battery that has to be pre-approved to go on the plane when you buy the scoot it comes with the paperwork that I just keep with the scoot every time it goes on now the flight people know it real well they see it and they're like oh

 

I agree. This is almost for sure the best way to avoid hassles. They are extra picky about the carry ons.

 

This would not be a wise way to go. 28 modules are going to weigh 62 pounds. (2.2 pounds per module). That's going to be very awkward to handle, assuming it's within any weight limits the airline may have. Most airlines also have weight limits on checked baggage. What is your alternate plan if the airline says no? What if they consider it hazmat (right or wrong doesn't matter) and you end up missing your flight because they insist you can't take it on the plane and they're not going to take possession of it? I would find it hard to imagine a checked bag would even get past the first x-ray before being inspected/rejected. Like I said, right or wrong, you could be there a long time trying to get it sorted out.

Go to the post office and get some flat rate boxes. You can get 12 modules? in one medium flat rate box. 17 bucks a box to send anywhere in the US.

 

No....wrong.

The reason for the rule is that batteries have a bad reputation for catching fire.
If that happens in the hold where nobody will notice until it is WAY out of hand..............

The type of batteries makes no difference because nobody wants to take the responsibility of inspecting them to pass or reject.
And they certainly won't be taking your word for it.

 

Has "ask the airline in advance" been suggested yet?

 

Yes I think so and I get a cert for the batteries way fore checking through . I guess if they sealed and flown before . Then theyres existing protocol . My travel scoot branded lith battery has papers to go . Most big makers have flown . Panasonic etc. Like DeWalt flex can fly with the red cap in place..

 

Flat rebate USPS boxes is the best idea!
No weight limit on them.

 

The problem with this idea is that when you get to the airport and the you tell them that you were told by TSA guy on the phone that it’s ok, and the airport TSA guy says, I have no idea who you talked to, buddy, prove it, you’re F’d.
Dealing with government folks is never easy and welcome abides by logic.

 

I've both dealt with (a large number of ) government folks, and been a (smaller number of) government folks, and usually found the dealing to be fairly easy, if a few things are kept in mind:

• They're typically following regulations that are in writing somewhere.
• Those are typically published where you can look them up and read them.
• If something requires somebody's approval, there is typically a published process or form for how you get that approval, and how you prove that you got it.

In the case of airline cargo restrictions, my understanding is it's not only TSA that's involved. Each airline may have some regs of its own, which is why it's probably important to start with the airline directly.

Because that's a private enterprise, there could be some more difficulties; they might not have their regulations or procedures as clearly published, it might be harder to learn the name and authority (or lack of authority) of the person you're talking to, and so on. Still, for something like "I have X that I'd like to check as cargo, is that acceptable and what must I do if it is?", there is probably a way to get the answer.

 

I just look at the gatekeeper who can screw the pooch, that is the TSA guy. Seen many a nail clipper confiscated as weapons. Used to carry my trusty Swiss Army knife with me in the good old days. Sigh.

 

USPS is pretty picky about Lithium Ion batteries:

USPS Packaging Instruction 9D | Postal Explorer

 

I would like to transport 28 separated NiMH cell modules

 

Got your dads ole zippo lighter that he carried with him to Korea during the War? A book of matches? Not anymore ya don't .... Love the ole air blaster check in too.