Can You Use An Electric Scooter In The Rain?

Many people are concerned about whether electric scooters can be used in the rain. The simple answer is yes. Most scooters can ride freely in light rain, but riding in heavy rain will cause problems such as electrical system damage on the scooters, which will greatly affect future use. In our post, we will discuss how to identify and improve the scooter's waterproof performance and prevent water or dampness of the scooter.  CONTENTS What scooters can ride in the rain?

• First digit: Solid particle protection
• Second digit: Liquid protection

How to improve the scooter's waterproof performance? 

• Protect LCD display
• Filling up the holes with silicone
• Apply liquid tape liberally to the cracks
• Protect the connectors

How to prevent water or dampness of the scooter?

• Storage
• Use
• Maintenance

What scooters can ride in the rain?

It depends on the rate of electric scooter. See the second characteristic numeral. The second digit indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against harmful ingress of water. Most of IPX4 electric scooter can be used in the rain. Even though, we are not recommended that ride electric scooter in heavy rain. For example, Varla Eagle One is IP54, so it can resist dust and prevent water splashing in all directions. It can be used in light rain, but after the ride, wipe the scooter clean as soon as possible to prevent water vapor from evaporating into the electric circuit. First digit: Solid particle protection The first digit indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against access to hazardous parts (e.g., electrical conductors, moving parts) and the ingress of solid foreign objects.

Level sized	Effective against	Description
X	—	X means there is no data available to specify a protection rating with regard to this criterion.
0	—	No protection against contact and ingress of objects
1	>50 mm 2.0 in	Any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand, but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part
2	>12.5 mm 0.49 in	Fingers or similar objects
3	>2.5 mm 0.098 in	Tools, thick wires, etc.
4	>1 mm 0.039 in	Most wires, slender screws, large ants etc.
5	Dust protected	Ingress of dust is not entirely prevented, but it must not enter in sufficient quantity to interfere with the satisfactory operation of the equipment.
6	Dust-tight	No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact (dust-tight). A vacuum must be applied. Test duration of up to 8 hours based on airflow.

Second digit: Liquid protection

Level	Effective against
X	X means there is no data available to specify a protection rating with regard to these criteria.
0	None
1	Dripping water
2	Dripping water when tilted at 15°
3	Spraying water at any angle up to 60° from the vertical
4	Splashing of water from any direction
5	Water jets from any direction
6	Powerful water jets (12.5 mm (0.49 in)) from any direction
6K	Powerful water jets with increased pressure
7	Immersion, up to 1 meter depth
8	Immersion, 1 meter or more depth on 30 minutes
9K	Powerful high-temperature water jets at any angle

*Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_Code

How to improve the scooter's waterproof performance?  

There are ways to improve your scooter's waterproof performance.

• Protect LCD display

LCD display and throttle is an vulnerable piece of electronics on the scooter. You can stick a transparent plastic cover over it, just like the film on phone screen.

• Filling up the holes with silicone

You'll find that there are many small and non-functional holes around the handlebar and throughout the deck of your scooter. If you’ve never done this before, no worries! It’s super simple. Just power on the hot glue gun and start filling up the holes. Such a simple method, and you can achieve so much.

• Apply liquid tape liberally to the cracks

In many cases, about 80% of the scooter's waterproofing can be greatly improved by tape. Use the liquid tape to isolate components. And it would be best if you apply tape to the cracks. They will prevent the water into scooter's inside.

• Protect the connectors

Dielectric grease is a good thing to protect them. You need to open the deck, apply some dielectric grease on the connectors, and let it dry. It helps to isolate the connectors from humidity and air. Also, it prevents oxidation and voltage leaks around electrical connections. *Please do not destroy the inside structure so as not to make you lose the warranty.

How to prevent water or dampness of the scooter?

Although our scooters can support riders to ride in light rain, and there are ways to improve the waterproof performance of scooters, don't ignore daily maintenance for a longer lifespan! Most customers neglected the maintenance after riding while using the scooter, and water vapor enter the lithium battery, which caused the malfunction and damage.  This kind of malfunction is difficult to repair. Thus, the most important thing is to prevent moisture and water ingress.

• Storage

When the scooter is not used for a long time, it should be placed in a cool and dry place. If it is placed in a humid place, it is easy to affect the circuit and lithium battery of the electric scooter because of the high humidity in the air. In the long run, it may cause rust between the battery and the wire, resulting in poor contact or circuit failure.

• Use

a. Try to ride on a flat road in the rain. Try not to ride the scooter pass through areas with deep water and avoid rain splashing into the deck, circuit wire, or electronic display area. b. If you live in a rainy place, you should consider preparing a waterproof scooter bag and a fully waterproof cover for your scooter. Just put the waterproof cover in the bag on sunny days. Once it rains, you can take it out in time to protect the scooter from rain. c. Carry some tape with you and stick it on the charging port. During riding, if you expect rain, please put some tape on your bag. If rain suddenly, just wrap some tape around the charging port. This is especially useful for scooters with low charging ports and close to the ground. Even if the scooter has a protective cover, riding in the rain does increase the chance of water entering. Safety is better than regret!

• Maintenance

When cleaning the scooter, such as at the end of the ride on a rainy day, turn off the scooter first. Then wipe the scooter with a towel squeezed out the water. Try to avoid dripping during the wiping process. Use a dry towel for secondary cleaning, which can absorb the residual moisture on the scooter body as much as possible. It can prevent excessive moisture from causing malfunctions in the electric scooter.

Final words

Although we have many ways to make your electric scooter more waterproof., we still do not recommend riding in the rain for the scooter's longevity and rider's safety considerations. If there is no way to avoid going out by scooter on rainy days, take safety measures and scoot slowly!