Waterproof Electric Scooters

This is the big question, and in the vast majority of cases, the answer is no. In fact, even if an e-scooter is claimed to be waterproof (or water resistant), many manufacturers will still advise riders to avoid using their products in the rain.

So, to make things a little more confusing there are in fact different degrees of waterproofness. It can be a bit of a minefield, but we’ll explain below what makes an electric scooter waterproof and what you need to look out for if you want to ride an electric scooter in the rain.

The reality is that waterproofness is rated on a scale, from ‘not waterproof at all’ to ‘completely waterproof’ and everything in between, and all this is based on an ‘IP rating’.

Waterproofness is measured using something called an ‘ingress protection standard’, which is published by the International Electrotechnical Commission.

In effect, it standardises the testing and measurement of devices, so that a product can be given an objective rating of the protection it has built in. The higher the rating, the more protection you get from ingress.

Once tested, there are two digits given to an IP rating. For example, “IP54”. The first digit is a measure of protection from intrusion of solid objects (rated 1-6), and the second is a measure of protection from moisture (rated 1-9).

Basic definitions for the moisture protection ratings can be found in this IP rating table:

x/0 - Not rated
1 - Protection against vertically falling droplets, such as condensation.
2 - Protection against falling water droplets deflected up to 15° from vertical.
3 - Protection against moisture spray up to 60° from vertical.
4 - Protection against water splashes from all directions. Tested for a minimum of 10 minutes with an oscillating spray (limited ingress permitted with no harmful effects).
5 - Protection against low-pressure jets (6.3mm) of directed water from any angle (limited ingress permitted with no harmful effects).
6 - Protection against high-pressure jets (12.5mm) of directed water from any angle.
7 - Protection against full immersion for up to 30 minutes at depths between 15cm and 1m (limited ingress permitted with no harmful effects).
8 - Protection against extended immersion at greater depths. Precise parameters of this test are set and advertised by the manufacturer and may include additional factors such as temperature fluctuations and flow rates, depending on equipment type.
9K - Protection against high-pressure, high-temperature jet sprays, wash-downs or steam-cleaning procedures.

So, an IP54 rating means a device has been tested and rated for protection against water splashes in all directions (the ‘5’ actually has nothing to do with moisture – this is its separate protection rating for solid object intrusion).

Note: an ‘x’ or ‘0’ rating (e.g. IP6x or IP60) indicates that no rating has been given for that measure.

You can ride some, but not all electric scooters in the rain. If you are considering taking your e-scooter out when it rains, there are two main things to consider.

Firstly, the IP rating outlined above. For safe everyday use in typical rainy conditions, including riding through puddles, we recommend a rating of IP65.

This ‘5’ level of moisture protection gives effective ‘water resistance’, meaning that the e-scooter is designed to withstand and continue operating safely in the face of splashes and low-pressure spray, and is perfectly adequate for day-to-day responsible use.

The second thing alongside the IP rating to consider, is the warranty supplied by the manufacturer. This is because, although an e-scooter may test to a certain standard, not all manufacturers will cover the cost of fixing or replacing your scooter if something goes wrong as a result of riding in the rain.

For example, an e-scooter may carry a rating of IP65, but the warranty that accompanies it may stipulate coverage in dry weather conditions only, or warn against use in rain or through certain hazards like puddles.

This means that, should the product develop a fault as a result of use outside of these recommendations, you could void your warranty despite adhering to the rating with best intentions.

For everyday riding in the rain, we strongly recommend an IP65 rating and a warranty that backs use in wet conditions for real peace of mind. 

All of the scooters, on this page are considered waterproof or water resistant. But when considering the best e-scooter to ride in the rain, you need one that not only has an IP65 rating, but also one that has water ingress from rain covered in the warranty.

The scooters that fall into this category are the:

Pure Air Go Electric Scooter - Second Generation 

Pure Air Pro LR (Long Range) Electric Scooter 

Pure Air Electric Scooter - Second Generation 

Pure Air Pro Electric Scooter - Second Generation 

We have designed our Pure Electric scooters with this purpose in mind to give you the best possible riding experience whatever the weather, while also ensuring our warranty has got your back if anything ever does go wrong.

Xiaomi scooters wouldn’t fall into the category that we would class as fully waterproof.

They do have an IP54 rating meaning they offer protection against water splashes in all directions, so they would be suitable for light rain, however, their warranty does not cover them against any potential rain damage.

This means if you take your Xiaomi e-scooter out in the rain, you are running the risk of breaking your e-scooter and invalidating the warranty while doing so.

At Pure Electric we have designed all our e-scooters to an IP65 standard, and we’re so confident our e-scooters are waterproof we’re willing to cover any rain damage within our warranty.

We have built all our e-scooters for UK riders riding in UK conditions, they are designed to tackle hills, carry taller riders, combat the British weather elements and go farther on a single charge.

Yes, you can. Each make will likely have slightly different advice to follow, so we suggest reading your new e-scooter's handbook and checking its warranty first, and bearing in mind that it’s not recommended to wash an e-scooter, that’s not waterproof, with water.

The best approach to cleaning your e-scooter would be to start by brushing off any dirt or mud with a medium bristle brush then sponge clean with warm water that has a touch of soap in. Make sure you wring out the sponge well first, so you aren’t getting too much water on your e-scooter.

Then wipe down with a damp sponge without any soap, before drying thoroughly.

Watch our full cleaning video on Youtube here.

We would not recommend storing your electric scooter outside. To take the best care of it and ensure it has the longest lifespan possible, it is best to store your e-scooter in a warm, dry and clean area.