Special terms and conditions for the commercial shipment of lithium-ion batteries, lithium metal batteries and sodium-ion batteries

Status: 12/2025

I. Exclusion and basis

1. Lithium-ion batteries, lithium metal batteries and sodium-ion batteries (hereinafter referred to collectively as "batteries") have a high energy density and contain highly flammable material. The risks and hazards associated with lithium/sodium-ion batteries include fire and explosion, radiation, heat, and chemical and electrical influences. Lithium/sodium-ion batteries are not dangerous per se, but rather a valuable addition to everyday life. With a few basic measures, the risk or danger posed by lithium/sodium-ion batteries can be minimised. The most important regulations to be observed during shipping are listed below.
2. These special terms and conditions govern the transport of critically defective (definition below), non-critically defective (definition below) and used batteries (including "out of use" batteries) as well as returns initiated by the recipient (including new goods) and prototypes by GO! Express & Logistics.
3. Shipments are made exclusively in accordance with the legal provisions of the ADR, IATA-DGR and the GGVSEB dangerous goods regulation.
4. Orders can only be placed by commercial customers. Pick-ups from private individuals are only permitted if the collection process has been defined in advance and the customer has ensured that the goods are packaged in accordance with the regulations.
5. The client confirms that the batteries to be transported have been tested and approved (UN 38.3 test passed) (except for prototypes).
6. The shipment of critically defective batteries (see definition below) is excluded. This includes, but is not limited to, batteries that are subject to an official recall with a high risk potential.
7. The client shall ensure that the sender assesses the condition of a battery in order to identify non-critically defective batteries and prepare them for shipment in accordance with the statutory provisions, as well as to exclude the shipment of critically defective batteries.
8. Special and/or return/recall campaigns must be notified to GO! in good time before commissioning and require prior approval and a separately agreed framework service agreement by GO!
9. The scope of services is limited to batteries with the following UN numbers: 3480, 3481, 3090, 3091, 3551, 3552. A test summary must be available for all batteries prior to shipment.
10. The client bears full responsibility for the proper declaration, packaging and labelling of the shipment.
11. GO! accepts no liability for delays or damage caused by legal transport restrictions or faulty batteries.
12. In the event of a dangerous goods incident, the client is obliged to provide all necessary information and documentation without delay.

II. Packaging and labelling

1. The client undertakes to package the batteries in accordance with packaging regulations P903, P908, P909, LP903 or LP904, depending on the type of battery.
2. The packaging must comply with the test requirements for packaging group II.
   
   a. Any damaged or defective cell or battery, or any equipment containing such cells or batteries, must be individually packed in an inner packaging and placed in an outer packaging. The inner or outer packaging must be leak-proof to prevent any possible leakage of the electrolyte.
   
   b. Each inner packaging must be enclosed in a sufficient quantity of non-combustible and non-electrically conductive thermal insulation material to protect against dangerous heat build-up.
   
   c. Tightly sealed packaging must be equipped with a venting device if necessary.
   
   d. Suitable measures must be taken to minimise the effects of vibration and shock and to prevent movement of the cells or batteries in the package, which could lead to further damage and dangerous conditions during transport. Non-combustible and non-electrically conductive cushioning material may also be used to comply with this requirement.
   
   e. The non-combustibility of the thermal insulation material and cushioning material must be determined in accordance with a standard recognised in the country where the packaging is designed or manufactured.
   
   f. In the case of leaking cells or batteries, sufficient inert absorbent material must be added to the inner or outer packaging to absorb any electrolyte that may be released.
   
   g. If the net mass of a cell or battery exceeds 30 kg, the outer packaging must contain only a single cell or battery.
   
   h. The cells or batteries must be protected against short circuits.
3. The outer packaging must be UN-certified and comply with the stress specifications for dangerous goods.
4. All packaging must be clearly marked with the UN number, the hazard labels and an emergency telephone number.
5. The packaging and labelling requirements of the applicable ADR / the statutory packaging and labelling requirements take precedence in each case.
6. If, after accepting the shipment, GO! determines that the shipment has been declared incorrectly or incompletely or does not meet the requirements set out in these terms and conditions, GO! is entitled to reject the shipment, return it or transfer it to a secure temporary storage facility at the client's expense. The client is obliged to bear all additional costs incurred as a result of the incorrect declaration, including, but not limited to, handling, inspection, disposal, return transport or transhipment costs. GO! is also entitled to charge a flat-rate misdeclaration fee of EUR 75.00 per shipment; further claims for damages remain unaffected.

III. Shipping, transport and returns

1. Transport within the GO! group of companies is limited to Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Denmark, Liechtenstein and Russia. Collection or delivery in other countries and to/from islands is generally excluded, but individual requests for exceptions are possible.
2. The acceptance of batteries is limited to weekdays and working days from Sunday to Thursday. The day of dispatch and the day of delivery must be followed by a working day; regional public holidays must be taken into account by the client. An additional agreement to extend the shipping days is possible.
3. The client assures that the recipient will be informed in detail about the expected delivery time.
4. The client must ensure that the shipment is accepted in all cases. This also applies to any necessary returns of the shipment.
5. If delivery is not possible, the shipment will be returned directly to the client at the client's expense. (This does not apply to the initial shipment of new goods.)
6. GO! does not provide temporary storage or relocation of batteries. (An exception to this is the shipment of new goods directly from the retailer.)

IV. General terms and conditions

1. These special terms and conditions apply in addition to the General Terms and Conditions (GTC) of GO!
2. The place of performance is the registered office of GO!
3. German law applies to all disputes. The place of jurisdiction is the registered office of GO!
4. Should any provision of these terms and conditions be invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected.
5. Definitions of battery condition:
   
   -    Critically defective (shipping is excluded in the GO! system):
   > Visual inspection (externally visible damage, altered shape, charred or burnt areas, leakage of liquid or gas, melted plastic parts or connecting cables) – battery must not be opene
   > Pungent odour
   > Hearing/shake test (by shaking the battery, you can hear loose parts inside the battery, buzzing or hissing noises)
   > Heat (out of operation: warmer than hand temperature)
   
   -    Non-critical defect:
   > None of the above points apply
   > Cannot be charged
   > Battery does not achieve the desired runtime
   > In the case of non-critical defect, P 908 applies; the battery requires type-tested packaging.
   
   -    New or no defect:
   If the battery has reached the specified charge cycles or if none of the points under critical defect or non-critical defect apply, SV 188 applies to batteries < 100 Wh and P 903 applies to batteries >= 100 Wh.

*Promotional shipping is assumed when several stations are affected by the shipment and the number of shipments is not insignificant. GO! reserves the right to specify details after analysis.

V. Liability

1. The client is fully liable for all damages, costs and expenses incurred by GO! or third parties as a result of incorrect, incomplete or misleading information regarding the condition, classification, test summary (UN 38.3) or due to packaging and/or labelling of the batteries to be transported that does not comply with the specifications. This includes, in particular, damage resulting from incorrect classification as 'non-critical defective', from packaging that does not comply with legal requirements or from an inaccurate declaration to GO! GO! is not obliged to check the information provided by the client itself.
   
   Applicable documents
   
   - ADR
   - IATA DGR
   - GGVSEB
   - PICK UP
   - UN 3480 ff.
   - Packaging regulations P903 ff
   - SV376