¿Cuántos triciclos eléctricos caben en un recipiente de 20 pies o 40 pies?

Planning your first bulk order? Unsure how many units to buy to fill a container and keep shipping costs low? Let's get you the numbers you need to plan your procurement strategy.

A 20ft container can hold 15-25 cargo trikes but only 3-4 enclosed passenger models. The exact number depends heavily on the tricycle type and if it's shipped assembled (CBU) or in parts (SKD/CKD), which drastically saves space.

This is one of the first questions every new distributor or government project manager asks me. Your goal is to lower the "landed cost" for each electric tricycle, and maximizing your container space is the best way to do that. The answer isn't a single number, because not all e-trikes are created equal. An open cargo trike that we can take apart is very different from a fully enclosed passenger model with a solid shell. Let's break it down so you can plan your order with confidence.

How Many Electric Tricycles Can a 20FT Container Hold?

Planning to start with a smaller, 20ft container? Worried about ordering too few and wasting freight costs? Let’s look at the real loading numbers for different models.

A standard 20ft container can fit a high volume of open-design models like electric cargo tricycles (15-25 units), but very few fully-enclosed models (3-4 units) due to their fixed, bulky shape.

A 20ft container is the most common starting point for new importers testing their market. The key to making it profitable is understanding how the type of electric tricycle you choose impacts the loading quantity. The difference can be huge.

The reason for this variation is our packing method. For models like the triciclo de carga eléctrica o leisure tricycle, we ship them SKD (Semi Knocked Down). We remove wheels, handlebars, and the cargo dumper, then stack the frames and parts efficiently. For an electric tuk-tuk taxi, we can separate the roof from the chassis. This allows us to pack them tightly.

However, an enclosed electric passenger tricycle has a one-piece molded body. We cannot disassemble it without requiring you to do complex welding and painting. It is shipped almost fully assembled (CBU), so it takes up a lot of space. Here's what you can generally expect for a 20ft container:

How Many Electric Tricycles Can a 40FT or 40HQ Container Hold?

Ready to scale up your operation with a larger order? Wondering if a 40ft High Cube container is worth the extra cost? Let's explore the capacity of bigger containers.

A 40ft container typically holds more than double the quantity of a 20ft container. A 40HQ (High Cube) provides extra vertical space, often allowing for an additional 10-15% capacity, which is ideal for bulk orders.

For established distributors and government tenders, a 40ft container is the standard for achieving the best per-unit shipping cost. There are two types: the standard 40ft GP (General Purpose) and the 40ft HQ (High Cube). The HQ is about one foot (30cm) taller, and that extra height makes a big difference when we are stacking frames and cargo boxes. It often allows us to fit in an entire extra layer of parts, maximizing your freight investment.

This container size really highlights the benefits of SKD shipping. We can fit a huge number of disassembled electric cargo trikes inside, bringing your per-unit freight cost way down. For bulky CBU models, the increase is less dramatic but still significant. Wholesalers and fleet managers who prioritize a low landed cost almost always opt for a 40HQ container.

Here are the typical loading quantities for a 40ft container:

What Factors Affect How Many Tricycles Fit in a Container?

Getting a quote for 25 units but the factory says only 22 will fit? This can be confusing. Let's clarify the key variables that determine the final loading quantity.

The final loading count is determined by three main factors: the shipping method (SKD/CKD vs. CBU), the specific dimensions of the model, and any custom accessories you have ordered.

The numbers I provided are excellent estimates, but the final count for your specific order can change. As a factory, we calculate this precisely before finalizing your proforma invoice. Here are the factors we consider:

1. Packing Method: SKD/CKD is the Game Changer

This is the most important factor.

• SKD/CKD (Semi/Completely Knocked Down): We disassemble the tricycle into modules—frame, wheels, cargo box, axles. These parts can be nested and stacked efficiently. This method is perfect for open cargo trikes y tuk-tuks, allowing us to fit many more units. Your team just needs to do simple bolt-on assembly locally.
• CBU (Completamente Construido): This is for models that can't be easily disassembled, like enclosed passenger trikes with one-piece fiberglass or metal shells. They are shipped nearly whole, occupying a lot of fixed space. Trying to ship these as kits would require complex welding and painting at your end, which is not practical.

2. Vehicle Model and Dimensions

No two models are exactly the same. A heavy-duty cargo trike with a 2-meter-long cargo bed will take up more space than a compact leisure model. The wide range for electric garbage tricycles (3-10 units in a 20ft) is a perfect example. A model with a simple, removable trash bin can be shipped SKD. A model with a large, integrated hydraulic dumping mechanism must be shipped CBU and takes up much more room.

3. Customizations and Accessories

Every modification can affect the packing plan. If you request larger tires, a full-length roof on a cargo trike, or specialized side-view mirrors, these parts must fit in the container. Sometimes, these small changes can prevent us from fitting that last one or two units. We always account for this in our loading plan.

How to Maximize Space When Loading Electric Tricycles?

Want to get every last dollar of value from your container freight cost? You need to work with a supplier who knows how to pack efficiently. It's a skill we have perfected over thousands of shipments.

We maximize container space by using expert SKD packing methods. This includes strategic disassembly, nesting frames, inverting handlebars, and using every small gap to pack components like wheels, chargers, and toolkits.

Loading a container with SKD electric tricycle parts is like a high-stakes game of Tetris. Our professional loaders have a system to ensure no space is wasted. This is how we lower your per-unit cost and pass the savings on to you.

Here are some of the techniques we use:

• Strategic Disassembly: We don't just take things apart randomly. We create modules that are easy for you to reassemble but also easy for us to stack. For example, the entire rear axle assembly might stay as one piece.
• Nesting and Stacking: We stack frames one on top of the other, often inverted, with protective foam in between to prevent scratches. Cargo boxes are nested inside each other like bowls.
• Using Every Gap: The empty spaces inside the stacked frames or cargo boxes are not wasted. This is where we pack the wheels, headlights, chargers, and bags of bolts.
• Optimized Loading Sequence: There is a specific order to loading. Heavy frames go on the bottom, with lighter components like plastic fenders and roofs stacked on top.

This careful process is something that can only be done properly at the factory. It’s why we always recommend FCL (Full Container Load) shipments, as it ensures this specialized packing is done safely and securely.

Conclusión

The number of electric tricycles in a container varies widely by model, but using SKD/CKD packing with FCL shipments is the key to maximizing value and lowering your landed cost.