Unlike traditional vehicles, electric scooters require specific care during colder weather to ensure their longevity and safe operation. And if you aren't riding, there are some helpful tips to putting your scooter into and taking it out of storage for when the weather warms. In this post we're going to run through a quick summary of the most helpful tips.
Battery Care
Keep It Charged: Battery performance dips in cold weather. Keep your scooter's battery charged between 40% and 80% to maintain its health, especially when in long term storage. If you put your scooter into storage in December, now would be a good time to top off the battery with additional charge as it's likely fallen below 40%.
Store Indoors: If possible, remove the battery and store it in a cool, dry place indoors to avoid exposure to extreme cold.
Other tips to prolong the life of your battery can be found here.
Tires and Brakes
Check Tire Pressure: Cold air contracts, which usually lowers tire pressure and reduce traction. Ensure your tires are properly inflated. For Levy Tires - this means 50 - 60 PSI. Under-inflated tires are the most common cause of flats.
Solid tires often have less traction on wet roads, so be caution when riding. The cold weather means the rubber has less flex to absorb shock and provide traction.
Brakes
Salts used for de-icing roads can accelerate the corrosion and rusting of metal parts, including brake lines. Often times if not cleaned it may require a full brake line replacements.
We recommend cleaning / lubricating the brake line as shown here every 4 months, but especially during any winter ride in these conditions. This can be done easily with a common lubricant, WD-40
Changes in Performance
Expect some overall changes during winter riding -
Decreased Battery Efficiency: Cold temperatures can significantly impact battery performance, leading to reduced range and power output. The chemical reactions within the battery slow down, making it less efficient at holding and delivering charge.
Increased Tire Hardness: Lower temperatures can cause tires to harden, reducing their grip and traction on the road. This change makes handling more difficult, especially on icy or wet surfaces, and increases stopping distances.
Slower Response Times: Both mechanical and electronic components may respond more slowly in cold weather. Brake responsiveness and acceleration might not be as sharp as in warmer conditions, requiring you to anticipate and plan your maneuvers more carefully.
As always, reach out to support@levyelectric.com with any additional questions on your scooter's maintenance, spare parts, and our in-store maintenance packages available for our NYC and LA customers.
