Riding an electric scooter in rain and winter: water ratings and what to avoid

How to read an IP rating

IP stands for ingress protection, and it has two digits. The first is protection against dust, the second against water. An X means that digit was not tested. So IPX4 has a water rating and no dust rating, while IP54 has both.

• IPX4 or IP54: protected against water splashing from any direction. Light rain and damp roads.
• IPX5 or IP55: protected against low pressure water jets. Steady rain and road spray.
• IPX6 or IP66: protected against powerful jets. Heavy rain.
• IPX7 or IP67: protected against brief immersion. Often applies to the battery pack alone, not the whole vehicle.

Read the wording closely. Some makers give one rating for the body and a higher one for the battery. The lower number is the one that decides where you can ride.

What to avoid, whatever the rating

• Puddles deep enough to reach the deck. Motors sit in the wheel hubs and the battery sits in the deck.
• Pressure washers and garden hoses. Clean with a damp cloth.
• Leaving the electric scooter parked outside in the rain for hours.
• Charging while the charging port or the deck is wet.
• Salt water and heavily salted slush, which corrode connectors and bolts quickly.

How to ride on wet roads

Everything takes longer in the wet, so give yourself room. Small wheels have a small contact patch, and water cuts the grip they have.

• Drop your speed by a third or more and double your following distance.
• Brake early, in a straight line, using both brakes gently. Grabbing the front brake in a wet corner is how most falls happen.
• Cross painted lines, metal plates, grates and rails upright and without braking or turning.
• Air filled tires grip better in the wet than solid tires. If yours are solid, be more cautious still.
• Turn your lights on and wear something bright. Drivers see less in rain.
• Fit fenders if your model does not have full ones. They keep spray off you and off the deck.

After a wet ride

• Wipe the electric scooter down with a dry cloth, paying attention to the deck, the charging port cover and the folding latch.
• Stand it indoors, unfolded, so it can dry fully.
• Wait until it is dry and at room temperature before charging.
• Every few weeks, check the brake pads and put a drop of light oil on the folding mechanism so it does not rust.

More on charging safely in our battery care guide.

Winter riding

Cold takes range, and ice takes grip. Expect noticeably fewer miles per charge near freezing. The capacity returns when the battery warms up. Keep the electric scooter indoors overnight, and never charge a battery that is below freezing.

• Do not ride on ice or packed snow. Small wheels cannot cope with it.
• Rinse road salt off with a damp cloth after each ride, then dry.
• Check tire pressure more often. It falls as the temperature drops.
• Wear gloves that still let you feel the brake levers.
• If you stop riding for the season, store the battery around half charged and top it up every month or two.

For what cold does to distance, see how far an electric scooter really goes.

Choosing a model for all weather commuting

Look for a stated IP rating, air filled tires, full fenders and good lights. The rating is listed in the specifications on each product page where the maker publishes one. If a page does not show a rating, ask us before you buy and we will check with the maker.

Maker figures, checked September 2026. Real range and speed depend on rider weight, terrain, temperature and riding mode.

You can see every model in the electric scooter shop.

Related guides: Electric scooter IP rating explained: IPX4, IPX5, IP54, IP55, IP65, IPX6 and IPX7 and Electric scooter storage in an apartment: space, charging, fire safety and winter.

Questions riders ask