Best Waterproof Electric Scooters in 2023
- Read Time: 11 min
Let's be clear on one thing right from the top, there is no such thing as a completely waterproof scooter. It is an electronic device and will thus, always be vulnerable to water damage. Looking for a "waterproof electric scooter" will instead mean there are various degrees of how much water an electric scooter can tolerate.
There is a system for indicating how much tolerance an electronic device has which is called IP rating. Below we will explain what that means as well as go through definitions of water protection.
What Does IP Rating Mean?
An IP rating is short for Ingress Protection. It is used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies such as water, moisture, dirt, and even tools.
Most electric scooters have an IPX4 rating. The first digit of the IP rating refers to debris resistance, while the second digit refers to water resistance. The higher the number, the better the protection.
When you see an X, it means the scooter hasn’t been tested in that category. To be on the safe side, you can replace it with a zero, assuming there is no ingress protection from foreign bodies. It might not be the case, but better safe than sorry.
Here is a chart explaining the various numbers
Debris Protection
| Rating | Will tolerate |
|---|---|
| X | Hasn’t been tested |
| 0 | No protection against debris |
| 1 | Larger objects, 5 cm and up, stones, etc |
| 2 | Medium objects, 1.3 cm and up, sticks, nails |
| 3 | Smaller objects, 2.5 mm and up such as thick wires |
| 4 | Very small objects, 1 mm and up, small screws |
| 5 | Partially protected against dust |
| 6 | Dust-tight. No dust will enter |
Water Protection
| Rating | Will Tolerate |
|---|---|
| X | Hasn’t been tested |
| 0 | No protection against water |
| 1 | Vertically dripping water |
| 2 | Dripping water up to 15 degrees from vertical |
| 3 | Sprayed water up to 60 degrees from vertical |
| 4 | Splashed water from any angle |
| 5 | Pressurised water from any angle |
| 6 | High-pressure water jets from any angle |
| K | Very high-pressure water jets from any angle |
| 7 | Up to 1m water immersion for 30 minutes |
| 8 | Up to 3m water immersion |
| 9K | Extreme pressure and high temperatures from any angle |
Waterproof or Water-resistant, What's the Difference?
For an electric scooter to be considered waterproof it would have to be fully submerged in water and no liquid whatsoever should get inside the components. And most electric scooters don't qualify as waterproof according to these criteria.
However, many electric scooters are water-resistant. Meaning they should be able to cope with some water like splashes, but not torrential downfalls or crossing the local river.
And this is where the IP rating is an indicator as explained above.
Sometimes an electric scooter doesn't have a listing or it says none under IP rating. This means you should avoid riding in any type of wet or rainy weather as well as stay out of moisture and water splashes. That particular electric scooter might have some water resistance but it is not guaranteed.
Some of the e-scooters fluidfreeride offers suitable for rain, if you know you have to ride in wet conditions at times, are listed below.
Mantis V2 Fluid Edition
The popular Mantis just got better with the upgraded V2 version. It now has an IPX5 rating and will tolerate water from any angle being sprayed on it. It also has an extended rear fender mudguard preventing water from spraying up on the rider's back or spilling onto the deck.
This is a powerful electric scooter with dual 60V 1000W/3000W peak power hub motors with strong acceleration and a 40 mph (64 kph) top speed.
Air-filled 10 x 2.5 inch (25,4 x 6,4 cm) tires with inner tubes are superb in dry conditions and also very good in the et with plenty of traction.
A grippy rubber mat with the Mantis emblem emblazoned provides superb grip whether it's dry or wet.
Nami Burn E 2
Another monster e-scooter is the Nami Burn-E2. An IP55 rating protects from water at any angle and partially from debris. Key components like display, controllers, and connectors have a high waterproof rating of IP67.
Bigger 11 x 3,5 inches (28 x 9 cm) pneumatic tires will help the ride quality when riding in the rain.
Dual 1000W motors with a 5000W peak power have plenty of torque and acceleration. Top speed of 45 mph (72 kph).
The rear and front fenders protect from getting sprayed in wet weather and the big deck with grip tape give plenty of deck traction.
Wolf King GT Pro
The GT Pro is a proper fast muscle e-scooter. Dual 2000W motors will propel this to a maximum speed of 61 mph (98 kph). Needless to say, the tires are up to par as we are entering the motorcycle world of performance somewhat.
Self-repairing 11-inch road tires or off-road tires are available on delivery and they are both good at handling water.
The deck is huge measuring 20,3 x 9,0 inches (51,5 x 23 cm) and is covered in rubber. Good traction.
Kaabo leads the way on waterproof displays, motors, and controllers by testing the prototype GT’s hardware underwater for ten days straight.
The overall scooter is IPX5 rated. The fenders are a bit short and extending them is a top tip to avoid getting sprayed.
Although the GT pro is upgraded to IPX5 from its predecessor IPX4, the manufacturer recommends staying out of riding in heavy rain.
Apollo Phantom
Maybe the best of them all is the upgraded Apollo Phantom V2. This is a scooter designed based on feedback from thousands of riders and it sets a high standard in the electric scooter world.
TOUVT-brand air-filled tires are phenomenal. 10 x 3,25 inches (25 x 8 cm) with excellent traction and higher quality inner tubes more resistant to pinch flats. The ride quality is amazing due to the suspension system but also these tires.
Dual 1200W/3200W peak power means it is a fast e-scooter and the top speed is 38 mph (61 kph).
The rear fender extends longer than most other scooters. It covers 25% of the rear wheel to make sure no spray will come up and ruin your clothes as well as spill onto the deck and other parts.
Deep grooves in a rubberized deck measuring 20,5 x 7,0 inches (52,1 x 18 cm) provide plenty of space and traction.
It is water-resistant with an IP54 rating.
Fluid Mosquito
If you are looking for an ultra-portable pocket rocket that can tolerate some moisture, then the Mosquito might tick your box.
But it has to be said, small solid tires are not "rain masters" and never will be. 8 x 2 inches (20 x 5 cm) size tires are never going to feel comfortable in the wet. Traction and braking distances will suffer. This is the trade-off one must accept for ultra-portability and never running flats.
And it is proper fast even though it is a lightweight electric scooter. It has a single 500W/700W peak power motor good for a top speed of 25 mph (40 kph).
One wouldn't expect such a compact e-scooter to have a big deck but it does manage just that with its 20 inches (51 cm) long deck.
Fender protection is very good and the IPX5 rating means some rain will not be a problem although staying out of puddles is a good strategy.
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
Riding an electric scooter in the rain is not very pleasant and not something one does voluntarily because it's fun. But it will happen, especially if you use it every day for commuting. Knowing how much water your e-scooter can tolerate is therefore important.
Quite a lot of factors are to be considered if you get caught in the rain. Slowing down is probably the most important one. Braking distances will be longer and if you have tires with minimum thread patterns or grooves in them, it will be very slippery. Stay away from manhole covers, white lines and similar, and avoid big puddles.
Make sure to get your scooter inside a warm dry place asap after a wet ride, and wipe it off with a cloth.
