Riding an electric scooter in the winter: battery, tires, and equipment

You can ride an electric scooter in the winter, but you need to accept three things: reduced range, lower traction, and more frequent maintenance. Cold weather slows down the chemical reactions in lithium batteries, which results in less power output and a reduced ability to handle high currents. Cold tires have less grip, and salt can corrode unprotected surfaces. Here's what changes in the winter, and the steps you can take to ride safely and comfortably.

What cold weather does to the battery

A lithium battery operates through chemical reactions. When it's cold, these reactions slow down, and the internal resistance of the cells increases. This has two consequences:

• Reduced range: Some of the stored energy becomes difficult to access. The range returns when the battery heats up; it's not a permanent loss.
• Fewer cutouts: Under high current, the voltage of a cold battery drops more quickly and reaches the threshold where the BMS (Battery Management System) or the controller cuts power. See our guide on scooters that cut out when accelerating.

A battery that delivers significantly more power than the machine demands retains more capacity in cold weather. This is one of the advantages of Performance batteries: see our electric scooter batteries.

Charging and storing for the winter

• Do not charge a cold battery. Charging lithium cells below freezing temperatures can damage them. After riding in cold weather, allow the machine to return to room temperature before plugging in the charger.
• Store the machine indoors, in a dry and temperate location. A battery that spends the night in a freezing garage will start the day with reduced range and more frequent shutdowns.
• During the winter season, store the battery at a 50% charge and check its level regularly. Our guide on how to store a lithium battery during the winter details the process.

Tires and traction

The rubber of a tire hardens in the cold: it provides less grip, especially on wet roads, on road markings, and on manhole covers. For winter conditions:

• Check the tire pressure when the tires are cold, as it decreases with temperature.
• Choose a treaded tire over a slick tire: the grooves help to evacuate water. The PMT Junior, a treaded tire originally designed for minimotos, remains predictable on wet roads.
• Avoid sudden leaning and late braking, especially during the first few kilometers.

See our guide for choosing a tire for your electric scooter.

Humidity, salt, and electronics

In winter, the machine is exposed to water containing salt. The salt accelerates the corrosion of connectors, screws, and brake discs. After riding on a road covered with salt, wipe the machine down with a damp cloth or rinse it with fresh water using a gentle spray, then dry it thoroughly. Never use a pressure washer: it can force water into the bearings, connectors, and controller, regardless of the advertised water resistance rating.

Periodically, open the accessible covers to check that no water is accumulating inside the deck. White or green traces on a connector are a sign of corrosion that should be addressed promptly.

Brakes and suspensions

A wet disc will brake less effectively on the initial lever pull: anticipate accordingly. Cold temperatures can also make some shock absorbers stiffer. Check your brake pad wear more frequently: the combination of water, sand, and salt accelerates their wear.

Pilot equipment

• Be seen: Use lights, wear light-colored or reflective clothing. Night falls early in the winter.
• Gloves: Warm gloves, but thin enough to feel the brake levers and the throttle.
• Headgear: A helmet, with a thin balaclava underneath if desired.
• The body: A windproof jacket; at the same speed, the wind makes you feel the cold much more intensely than when walking.