Rain is on its way and your electric scooter is standing in the hallway. Can you still ride? The answer is in two places: the IP rating in the specifications and the manufacturer's manual – and the two don't always say the same thing.
Electric scooter in the rain: can you ride it?
It depends on the model – check the manual, not just the IP number. IPX4 and IP54 mean the electronics passed a lab splash test, not that the scooter is made for rain: Xiaomi says no to rain for the 4 Pro Plus (IPX4), Segway-Ninebot for the ES series (IP54). No rating covers pressure washing.
How to read the IP code
The IP code comes from the international standard IEC 60529. It states how well an enclosure protects the electronics against solid objects and water. The first digit covers dust and dirt (0–6), the second covers water (0–9). An X means the manufacturer has not specified a value for that part. So IPX5 says nothing about dust – neither good nor bad.
| Code | What the standard tests | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| 5 (first digit) | Dust-protected: some dust may get in, but not enough to interfere with operation | Copes with gravel paths and dry dust |
| 6 (first digit) | Dust-tight: no dust gets in | The best protection against dust and fine grit |
| IPX4 | Splashing water from any direction, about 10 minutes | Splash protection. Don't count on it being made for rain riding – check the manual and avoid standing water. |
| IP54 | Dust-protected + splashing water from any direction | Same water protection as IPX4, plus a specified dust rating |
| IPX5 / IP55 / IP65 | Water jets from a 6.3 mm nozzle, 12.5 litres per minute, at a distance of 3 metres, for at least 3 minutes. IP65 = dust-tight + water jets. | Takes more water than IPX4, but not deep puddles. Here too, the manual may say no to rain. |
| IPX6 / IP56 | Powerful water jets from a 12.5 mm nozzle, 100 litres per minute | Stronger water protection than IPX5 – but still never pressure-wash the scooter. |
| IP67 | Dust-tight + temporary immersion, 1 metre for 30 minutes | Tested under water, but not necessarily against water jets. |
Two things are easy to miss. The scale is not cumulative above 6. Under the standard, a product rated IPX7 does not have to pass the IPX5 or IPX6 tests, because immersion and water jets are different tests. If a product passes both, it is marked with a slash, for example IPX5/IPX7. The test is done in a lab with fresh water, on a new product and for a limited time. It says nothing about salty water from winter roads, hours in a downpour or a scooter with a few years and a few repairs behind it.
How much rain can your electric scooter or e-bike take?
The electric scooters, e-bikes and electric unicycles in our range are rated anywhere from IPX4 to IP67. You will find the rating in the specifications on every product page for electric scooters, e-bikes and electric unicycles. Three things decide how much rain your vehicle can actually take:
1. What the manual says
The IP number doesn't tell the whole story – even an IPX5 model can have a manual that says no to rain. That's the case with Xiaomi's Electric Scooter 5 (IPX5) and 4 Pro Plus (IPX4), for example. Segway-Ninebot's manual for the ES series says you should not ride in the rain or through puddles. Lost the paper manual? It is usually available as a PDF from the manufacturer – search for the model name plus "manual". Segway-Ninebot, for example, has the ES series manual online.
TechRadar makes a related point in its e-scooter safety guide: check the warranty before you take the scooter out in the rain, as some only cover riding in dry conditions.
2. Which parts the rating covers
Sometimes the IP rating applies to the whole vehicle, sometimes only to the battery or the motor. "Battery IP67", for example, does not mean that the display, throttle or connectors can take as much. Check whether the figure covers the whole vehicle.
3. How old the scooter is
Seals dry out, screws work loose and a cable can get a small chafe mark. Water protection can deteriorate over the years and every time a housing has been opened. Check rubber plugs, the charging port cover and cable entries now and then, and replace anything that has cracked. It fits easily into a normal maintenance routine.
E-bikes and unicycles: e-bikes are often ridden all year round, and Bosch describes them as robust, even in winter – but pressure washing is a no, because water can get into the bearings of the motor and hubs. On an electric unicycle, the motor and battery sit in the same wheel that takes all the road spray, so ride around puddles there too. Choosing a vehicle for commuting in all weathers? See our comparison electric scooter vs e-bike.
How to ride an electric scooter in the rain
Water protection is about the electronics. Getting there safely yourself matters at least as much:
- Slow down and brake earlier. Braking distances get longer on wet surfaces, and small wheels have a small contact patch. Brake gently with both brakes and not in the middle of a bend. Tyres matter too: pneumatic tyres usually grip better in the wet than solid ones, so if you often ride in the rain, weigh that up in our guide to solid vs pneumatic tyres.
- Watch out for surfaces that get slippery. Painted lines, manhole covers, tram rails, metal plates and wet leaves. Ride straight over them without braking or turning.
- Ride around puddles. You can't see how deep they are or whether there is a pothole at the bottom – and that is where the water reaches the motor and connectors.
- Be seen in the dark and rain. Switch your lights on during the day too and wear reflectors. If you need a brighter lamp, take a look at our electric scooter lights.
- Protect the most exposed parts. A mudguard reduces the water spraying up onto the deck. Our electric scooter protection range includes rubber covers for the charging port, rain covers and battery protection. Gloves give a better grip on the handlebar – see our electric scooter gloves.
- Expect a shorter range. Wet surfaces, wind and cold use more power. You'll find tips in our guide on how to increase your electric scooter's range. An extra charge only costs a few cents – see how much it costs to charge an electric scooter.
If it is pouring down or water is standing in the street, wait, take another route or fold the scooter and take the bus part of the way, if the operator allows it – see our guide to taking an electric scooter on public transport. No IP rating is built for riding through a flooded underpass.
Rain often comes with darkness – how to see and be seen is covered in riding an electric scooter at night.
After the rain: dry, wait, charge
- Wipe down the scooter with a soft cloth. Start with the display, throttle and brake levers, folding mechanism and charging port.
- Let it dry indoors at room temperature. Stand it upright so that water can drain out, and not directly against a radiator.
- Only charge once the charging port is dry. Charge in a dry place and never connect the charger to a wet port.
- Wash without high pressure. Pressure washers and steam cleaners force water into the bearings and the motor. Use a sponge, mild soap and lukewarm water, and remove the battery first if you can. Bosch has a handy e-bike care guide.
- Wipe off road salt in winter with a damp cloth. Salt corrodes connectors, screws and brake discs. More tips in our guide to riding an e-scooter or e-bike in winter.
- Test your brakes in the first few metres next time. Wet discs and pads grip less until they have dried.
Signs that water has got in
The display fogs up, the lights flicker, the scooter switches itself off, the throttle stutters or an error code appears. On Xiaomi scooters, for example, a communication fault between the display and the controller shows up as error 10 – see our guide to Xiaomi scooter error codes. If that happens, switch the scooter off, let it dry thoroughly at room temperature, ideally overnight, and start it again. Never open the battery yourself. If it smells burnt, or the battery is swollen or hot, put it somewhere safe and contact us. Damaged parts such as cables, chargers or displays can be found in our spare parts portal. More on looking after the battery in our guide on charging and caring for the battery.
Water damage and the warranty
All our products come with a 2-year warranty. It covers manufacturing and material defects, including in the battery, motor, controller and display. It does not cover moisture or water damage caused by exposure beyond the conditions the model is designed to withstand – riding through deep water or pressure washing, for example. Contact with moisture does not in itself void the warranty. We assess whether the moisture caused the specific fault you report. Read the full terms on our warranty page, and contact us if you are unsure what your model can take.
