How To Protect Your Electric Scooter From Rust And Corrosion!
Despite the fact that most electric scooters are reasonably well protected against corrosion, rain, and overall wet conditions are not the best friends of an electric scooter. We understand that you want to use your e-scooter regardless of the weather conditions even in winter.
It is therefore important to know how to best protect it against rust and corrosion. It is also good to know how rust and corrosion develop and how the parts of your scooter can be affected. We’ll tell you all about it in this article!
- How To Protect Your Electric Scooter From Rust And Corrosion!
- What is the difference between rust and corrosion?
- To what extent are electric scooters protected against rust and corrosion?
- What is the effect of rust on an electric scooter?
- What is the effect of corrosion on an electric scooter?
- Protect your e-scooter against rust and corrosion
- Choose a high-quality electric scooter
What is the difference between rust and corrosion?
Basically, rust and corrosion are the same thing. The big difference is that rust only affects metal, while corrosion also affects other materials. Both are created by a chemical reaction between iron, oxygen, and water, whereby an iron oxide layer is formed on the surface of the material.
Rust is actually a form of corrosion that only occurs on metal surfaces. In the case of electric scooters, rust can occur on metal parts such as the frame, wheels, and handlebars. Corrosion of these parts can lead to structural integrity degradation and damage to the scooter becoming less secure to ride on.
Corrosion, on the other hand, can penetrate deeper into the parts of the electric scooter, such as the battery, cables, and other internal parts. In the worst case, this can cause the battery to break and therefore have to be replaced. Preventing rust and corrosion is therefore essential to the life of the electric scooter and its optimal use.
To what extent are electric scooters protected against rust and corrosion?
Most (new) electric scooters are well protected against rain and moisture. In the technical specifications, you can check the IP rating to see to what extent a specific design is protected. But what do the different IP ratings mean and how do you know exactly what to look out for?
An IP code always consists of the letters ‘IP’ followed by two numbers. The first number tells something about the degree of protection against fixed subjects, such as dust. The second number indicates
to what extent an electric scooter is protected against penetrating liquids. In the tables below you can see what each individual code means exactly:
Meaning of first digit IP code:
| Degree of protection | Description |
| 0 (X) | No protection |
| 1 | Protection against solid particles with a diameter of more than 50 mm |
| 2 | Protection against solid particles with a diameter of 12.5 mm or more |
| 3 | Protection against solid particles with a diameter of 2.5 mm or more |
| 4 | Protection against solid particles with a diameter of 1 mm or more |
| 5 | Protection against dust particles |
| 6 | dustproof; Complete protection |
Meaning of second digit IP code:
| Degree of protection | Description |
| 0 | No protection |
| 1 | Protection against vertically falling water drops |
| 2 | Protection against falling water drops on an enclosure tilted 15° |
| 3 | Protection against spraying water at an angle of 60° from the vertical position |
| 4 | Protection against splashing water from any direction |
| 5 | Protection against directed low-pressure (6.3 mm) water jets at any angle |
| 6 | Protection against high-pressure (12.5 mm) directed water jets at any angle |
| 7 | Protection against complete immersion to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes |
| 8 | Protection against submersion to greater depths and higher pressures |
| 9 (K) | Protection against directed water jets at high temperature and pressure, against rinsing or against steam cleaning procedures |
What is the effect of rust on an electric scooter?
Rust has adverse effects on the metal surfaces of an electric scooter. It is important to keep that in mind for safety reasons because rust can weaken the metal, which can have long-term consequences for the functionality of the scooter.
Metal with a magnetic function can lose its effect more quickly when rusting occurs. The layer of rust disrupts the magnetic field between the metals. Furthermore, rust isolates certain materials, which affects their conductivity and will lose their effect.
Rust mainly affects the outside of an electric scooter. When rust formation will occur in large sizes, the scooter will slowly lose its functionality. Prevent rust from forming to extend the life of your scooter.
What is the effect of corrosion on an electric scooter?
Corrosion is slightly different from rust, as corrosion can also occur on other types of materials than just metal. It is the result of a chemical reaction between a particular material and its environment. For example, the material can be affected by liquids, gas, salts, acids, and heat.
With regard to electric scooters, corrosion has the same effect as rust, but mainly on parts on the inside of the scooter (which is even more dangerous because it’s hidden and stays undetected for much longer). For example, consider the battery, electric motor, cabling, and other (electronic) components. In case of exposure to a certain substance, the materials in the scooter can be affected by corrosion.
Protect your e-scooter against rust and corrosion
Rust and corrosion formation have adverse consequences for the structural integrity of the electric scooter. For this reason, it is important to prevent rust and corrosion wherever possible. Despite that most E-scooters are well protected against rain and moisture, it is useful to know how to prevent rusting. Here is a five-step plan:
1. Buy an e-scooter with a good IP rating
The best thing you can do to prevent rust and corrosion is to choose an electric scooter with a good IP rating (most e-scooters on the market have an IP rating of 54). In the technical specifications of a specific model, you will find to what extent the scooter is protected against the penetration of dust and moisture. The better the classification, the less likely you are to deal with rust and corrosion.
2. Try to keep the scooter as dry as possible
Since metal and moisture do not go hand in hand, it is advisable to protect your scooter and keep it as dry as possible. Metal is the breeding ground for rust and it occurs when metal comes into contact with water or moisture.
Did you drive in the rain? Dry the scooter immediately upon arrival on location.
3. Store your scooter in a dry area
Storing your electric scooter in the correct area is more important than you think. Most choose to store the scooter in a garage or shed, but in case of bad weather, it can already damage your scooter and induce rust.
It is recommended to store the scooter in a dry room at room temperature. Also, take into account the moisture content in the room and try to limit this as much as possible. Use a dehumidifier if necessary to limit the moisture content.
4. Avoid scratching the electric scooter
Scratches on an electric scooter aren’t just an optical problem but also affect rust formation. Since scratches can form deep cuts in the scooter’s frame, they can lead to rust because the protective paint can no longer do its job, and these areas are also more difficult to keep dry.
This increases the chance of rust formation and you will have to take even more precautions in wet conditions.
5. Perform regular maintenance
To make the most of the life of your electric scooter, it is important to perform regular maintenance. With regard to rust and corrosion, this means you check the various parts of the scooter regularly for rust formation.
If you don’t do this and only find out later that rust has started to develop, the replacement of certain parts is often necessary. You obviously want to avoid this. Read more about the maintenance of an electric scooter in our article HERE.
Choose a high-quality electric scooter
If you are looking for an electric scooter that is resistant to rust, take a look at our webshop. Here you will find various models of e-scooters of the highest quality and with good IP classifications.
The latest electric scooters are even protected against rust on the frame and battery pack. This means you don’t have to worry about rust and corrosion as much.
