Can you ride Electric scooters in the Rain? Waterproofing tutorial

I will start with the short and easy answer to a question that almost every owner of an electric scooter will ask at some point: can I ride my electric scooter in the rain or not?

Depending on your model, you can ride it when there are light showers of rain with the condition that you have a rating of IP54 rating on your scooter. However, it’s not advised to ride in heavy rain, freezing rain, and other adverse weather conditions.

When you can ride an electric scooter in rain?

You can definitely ride an electric scooter if there’s light rain or wet ground, and there are no safety issues involved.

Before deciding if you can ride it in rain consider the following tips:

Is there a deficiency of visibility?

If the visibility is affected by rain or fog, consider another means of transportation for the day. If you can’t see obstacles far ahead, it’s hard to react in time.

Getting stuck Rain

If the rain is likely to get worse and transform in a torrential rain of any kind, it’s better to skip the electric scooter ride. If your scooter gets submerged, the electric circuit, electric motor, and other parts can be permanently damaged.

An area with lots of puddles or high water?

Even if the rain is light, you may encounter some issues riding while it’s raining because puddles can form on the road. If the puddles are too big, it’s not recommended to ride through them.

My own rules (for safe riding):

• Light rain (which doesn’t get worse)
• Minimum visibility of 400 ft or 120 meters
• No big puddles on the road (+ avoid them while riding)
• The outside temperature is not near the freezing point

When you cannot ride an electric scooter in the rain

It’s not advised to ride while raining if:

• Torrential rain
• Low visibility (< 400 ft or 120 meters)
• Lots of puddles or high water
• Freezing temperatures

Can you get a shock from riding an electric scooter in the rain?

It’s unlikely to get an electrical shock from riding an electric scooter in the rain or under any conditions in general. The electric circuit is enclosed in the scooter, and the only two connectors could be the acceleration and brake levers. However, these are only switches and do not carry a high current.

The battery itself is typically insulated against water, and the electrical circuit is as well.

Even if you get a shock from your scooter, it can’t cause death or serious injuries as the voltage is pretty low (about 24-36V on most scooters).

Still, there are very few chances of getting electrocuted so don’t worry. I’ve ridden the scooter in light rain many times and haven’t.

Can you submerge the electric scooter?

Most scooters have an IP54 rating, which stands for International Protection ratings. The first digit refers to protection against solids and the second one to liquids.

According to the documentation of the IP54 rating, which most scooters have, most offer limited protection to dust and water spray.

IP54 Solid protection: Protected from limited dust ingress

IP54 Liquid protection: Protected from water spray from any direction, limited ingress protection

So the answer is no, you can’t submerge an electric scooter without destroying it.

I don’t know any, but if your scooter has an IP 6 liquid protection, you may submerge your scooter.

IP67

• Protected from total dust ingress
• Protected from immersion between 15 centimeters and 1 meter in depth, limited ingress protection

IP68

• Protected from total dust ingress
• Protected from long term immersion up to a specified pressure, limited ingress protection

Waterproof vs Water resistant

Are electric scooters waterproof? Most electric scooters are water-resistant but not water-proof. There is a big difference between these terms, so you need to be careful. It’s not recommended to ride electric scooters in areas where you may go through high water or puddles.

If you encounter a big puddle, don’t risk your scooter’s life.  Stop and go around.

Can you wash an electric scooter using high pressure?

If you think you can wash your scooter using high-pressure pumps like in a car washing station, think again. As stated above, the IP54 rating means light water sprays are ok. If you want to wash it with a water pump, get one with IP 6 liquid rating, but you won’t find one probably.

If your scooter has an IP66 rating, you may be able to use such a tool to wash your scooter making it sparkling clean.

IP66

• Protected from total dust ingress
• Protected from high-pressure water jets from any direction, limited ingress protection

However, cleaning your scooter will involve using a wet rug and some patience.

Before buying an electric scooter

Always check the IP rating protection that the scooter has. This way, you will be fine if caught in little rain for a short period of time. Most scooters will offer IP54 protection, which is the industry standard for dust and liquid.

Water sprays and light rain should not harm your scooter.  However, don’t ride through a flood or a deep puddle because you will be in trouble.

Going through a deep puddle will submerge your electric scooter, which can ruin its electric system.

Warranty in case of water damage?

Even if the manufacturers offer IP54 protection, the warranty will become void if your scooter is broken because of water. The reason is they can’t differentiate one flooded scooter from another one which suffers from little water sprays.

Usually, manufacturers offer a 2-year warranty on the electric scooter itself and most components. Exceptions are with the battery and electric motor, which can be limited to 1 year or less and a specific number of miles.

They state pretty clearly that the warranty doesn’t apply for any damage caused by inappropriate use, including accidents and weather conditions like rain and snow.

For example, “Our warranty does not cover malfunction due to inappropriate use, normal wear and tear, or damage caused by accidents or weather.”

How to waterproof an electric scooter

If you want to ride your electric scooter in the rain, you’ll want to waterproof it. One thing that you should remember here is that water-resistant is not the same as waterproof. Many scooters will say they are water-resistant and that will be okay for a few raindrops, but you don’t want to be racing through puddles with one.

The main reason you’ll need to waterproof your scooter is that unlike cars or other vehicles, the motor on your scooter will more than likely be open to the elements. You’ll also find that if you fully submerge your electric scooter, you might have to start looking for a new one.

The moisture will seep into all your electric circuits, as well as your bearings, and cause rusting and electrical damage.  Your scooter frame itself may also start to rust depending on the materials it is constructed from and how well it was finished in the factory.

A simple way to waterproof

If you’re going to leave your e-scooter outside and it looks like it might rain, then you’ll be wanting a cover for your scooter. A waterproof cover over your scooter will guide moisture away from your scooter and down onto the ground. If you can’t find a dedicated cover, then you should be able to buy a tarpaulin from your local hardware store, and although it might not look pretty, it will do the job.

Display protection

With the growth of 3D printing, you’ll find it possible to look on sites, such as Amazon, and find small startups that make waterproof covers for the display unit of your scooter. Most of these covers simply click on over the top and still allow you to have full functionality.

The better manufacturers will also include a guarantee against any water ingress.

Ring seal

Similar to the display unit covers, you’ll also be able to find ring seals that are made from foam and can be attached to the bottom of your scooter and keep your battery from getting water sprayed up and into the unit. These will generally go over the top of your battery cover and are not designed to replace it.

Connections

There are a few simple things you can do to your electrical connections to help keep them in great condition. The first thing you should probably do if you’ve never thought about it before is to clean all your electrical connections.

The what you want to do is seal them away from air and humidity, these will always bring you rust. You can go to your local hardware store again and buy some dielectric grease and put a small covering over your connections. If you don’t have a hardware store nearby, then a little smidge of petroleum jelly should also work.

Waterproof spray

It is also possible to buy waterproofing spray, ACF50. This spray is used for aircraft maintenance and should last a few years from the initial coating. You might be able to find this spray in a remote control vehicle store.

It is worth remembering that all these methods will never bring you 100% waterproofing. You’ll need to use your common sense to help keep your scooter working and if you live somewhere wet look at buying an electric scooter that comes waterproofed from the factory.

My tips for riding an electric scooter in the rain:

If you decide you need to, at least follow these tips:

1. Ride slow

The traction is not great on wet ground. Electric scooters have small wheels (width), so you can’t get good traction on wet ground. The ability to break in time will also decrease.

The wider the tires are, the better they will perform on any type of surface because you will get stability and control.

2. Close the charging port rubber

Make sure the charging port is covered with the rubber before beginning your ride. If it’s not, water can enter and affect the electric circuit.

3. Take turns slowly

If you don’t pay attention while taking turns and expect your scooter to react as it were on dry ground, you will be in trouble. Water will cause the scooter to slip if you take corners too sharp.

Electric scooter’s tires have low width, and this is a problem for stability.

4. Brake in time

If you brake too fast, your wheels will lock and cause your scooter to slide. Drive slow in order to adjust and apply the brakes when the terrain is wet.

5. Clean your electric scooter right after

It’s advised to clean your electric scooter as soon as possible after riding in the rain. Lots of mud and dust will stick to the scooter’s parts, and these can cause damage and rust. Clean your electric scooter as soon as you reach your destination.

And a final tip for your ride, this time about you:

6. Get a raincoat

This will protect you from rain and mud thrown by the scooter’s wheels.

Does rain affect battery life/range?

Yes, it does. Riding on wet ground will cause more friction between the road and the scooter’s wheels. Because of this increased friction, more power is needed to propel the scooter forward. Expect your range to be reduced up to 20% when riding in the rain.

Storing your electric scooter

It’s recommended to store your electric scooter in a dry, room-temperature environment in order to prolong its components and battery lives.

Storing your scooter in a humid environment can damage certain parts which cause rust to form. A cold environment is also not recommended because condensation can form inside the battery damaging it.

Back to our point, don’t store it in a place that could get water on your scooter like a basement with pipes. Get a waterproof cover if needed.

If you won’t ride the scooter for a long time, it’s still recommended to charge it once in a couple months. Read more about this on how to charge electric scooters article.

Does your scooter have Chrome elements?

Chrome elements are sensitive to water, mud, and dust. It’s not advised to ride in the rain if your scooter has parts made of Chrome. If water affects even a small part of the Chrome or it scratches, the process will slowly extend.

Local Laws

Depending on your local laws, it may be forbidden to drive an electric scooter under certain weather conditions. But, in most cases, it’s up to you to decide if you can ride it safely. Always take into consideration your safety and the safety of others.

Conclusion

You can ride an electric scooter on wet ground or in light rain. Maintain a low speed during your ride and pay more attention than usual in order to avoid any obstacles. The brake distance increases on wet ground, and the stability is diminished.

I have another article on the other side of the story: riding in snow. Check it out here.