Can You Ride an Electric Scooter in the Rain?

So, you just got your first electric scooter and are hopefully having fun using it. You might have some questions about when you can ride it or if there are certain weather conditions to avoid. In other words, can you get an e-scooter wet?

What if you are riding your scooter and suddenly get caught in a storm, what can you do? 

Water Can Damage the Electrical System

While riding your electric scooter in the rain is generally considered to be safe, water can damage the electrical system in the scooter. A light sprinkle would be fine but you should steer clear from deeper water- such as puddles on the side of the roads.  Simply avoid any flooded areas to keep the electrical system safe. 

So, if you find yourself caught in the rain on the scooter, do not worry. Just start on your way back home. Puddles can take a few minutes to form, so just do your best to keep the scooter out of the water. 

Water Can Also Damage the Battery

Water can also cause an issue with the electric scooter’s battery. However, you can usually change and replace the battery in a scooter- replacing the entire electrical system is a different story and a lot harder to happen. 

Water causes the electrolytes in the battery to expand and eventually will cause an overflow. This might lead to the battery leaking chemicals, which can be dangerous to touch.  If the battery seems bloated or has other issues, you will want to carefully replace it sooner than later. 

What to do if Your Electric Scooter Gets Soaked

So, what can you do if your electric scooter gets drenched in a surprise thunderstorm? Once you get back inside, you are going to want to turn it off, take the battery out, and dry it off with a towel as soon as possible.

A mild rain will not hurt the system, but after a heavy rain, you will need to take a few minutes to ensure that the scooter will start up the next time that you want to use it. It might sound silly, but  taking a hairdryer to the bottom of the scooter will dry it more thoroughly than a towel can . Do not do this to the battery, just the turned off scooter.

I Got Caught in a Storm!

Here are a few quick steps to take when your electric scooter gets rained on.

• Turn it off right away.
  • This will keep the water from interacting with the electrical system and breaking it. Be sure that you find somewhere dry to hide out for a little bit while you move on to the next steps.

• Take the battery out and dry it.
  • Water will destroy the battery- meaning that you will need to buy a new one to replace it. Carefully take the battery out and dry it as best as you can as soon as possible, you will also want to make sure that it does not get wet again as you start heading home.

• Use rubbing alcohol on the battery.
  • Once you are home, use a little bit of rubbing alcohol on the battery. The alcohol will evaporate and take any lingering moisture with it. The earlier you can do this the better, so do not put it off for another day.  Rubbing alcohol will ensure that the battery is saved- meaning that you will not need to pay out for a replacement. 

Is Riding an Electric Scooter in the Rain Dangerous?

Well, it is dangerous for your scooter, as it might stop working the next day. However, there is no chance of you being harmed- the scooters have safety features included that keep them safe in the rain, as long as you turn them off soon.

Most of the danger comes from being able to control the scooter in the slippery conditions.  If you are going too fast (say, trying to outrun a storm and get inside before you get drenched) then you could easily slide off course and have an accident. 

Remember, if you have trouble controlling the scooter under dry conditions, then steering it in the rain will only be more difficult. A helmet can protect you from that, if it were to happen. You will also want to quickly check the wheels on your scooter every so often.

Wheels that are worn down and smooth will need to be replaced. They make it easier to slide on the ground and have less grip than new tires- meaning that they are more dangerous in wet conditions. Also, you will want to spend some time briefly checking the pressure of the tires as well. 

Treat the Scooter Well

If you take care of your new electric scooter it will last you many years to come. They are fine in light rain, but be sure to take the time to dry it off if you want it to last.  Never ride in heavy rainfall and do your best to bring the scooter inside if you find yourself caught in it suddenly. 

You will also want to be  careful to not overcharge the battery too often and never leave it outside overnight, plus take good care of the tires . If you do these little steps to take care of the scooter, you will not need to buy a new one for a very long time. 

Conclusion

In short, you can get a few raindrops on your electric scooter and nothing bad will happen. Although, you will want to dry it off as soon as you can. 

You also will want to avoid large puddles of water or flooded areas at all costs- if you drive through one, you might find that your scooter will not start up the next day.  Protecting your battery is vital to the life of your scooter, so make sure that it stays dry. 

We have all found ourselves in a surprise rainstorm, just be sure to take care of the scooter afterward.