When military families prepare for a move, a litany of paperwork is involved. One such notice from both the military moving office and the actual movers is that they will not move lithium batteries. This is aligned with the change in the shipping of lithium batteries. During a PCS move, the Army has announced guidance on moving with lithium batteries.
Army personnel are authorized a combined limit of 100 watts in their household goods shipments, and those who must leave products behind with unremovable batteries that exceed the 100-watt-hour threshold can receive reimbursement. The guidance remains that lithium batteries must be removed if they are removable, moved, or shipped by the military members themselves. However, if the battery is not removable and has to be left behind due to the lithium battery limitations, Army personnel can claim a loss of this item.
But what items have lithium batteries? Aside from computers, consider power tools, electric scooters, rechargeable camera batteries, medical equipment, and even electric toothbrushes.
Any batteries that cannot be shipped or moved with the military member should be disposed of by the proper channels. Battery recycling centers or specific areas at base recycling centers. Make sure to inquire at your recycling center on post to know where and when to turn in batteries if they are no longer needed.
The exception to the 100-watt rule is electric vehicles. Shipping of electric vehicles is through a different party and therefore, is not under the limitations of the household goods move.
Per moving experts, the Air Force is looking into a similar policy. The Navy, and therefore including the Marine Corps, is not looking to extend a similar policy currently.
