Mobility Scooters in a Canadian Winter: What the Makers Say

We went through the owner's manuals and spec sheets for scooters we carry, from Pride, Golden Technologies, WHILL, MOVO, eFOLDi and Shoprider, and collected what each maker actually says about cold, snow, salt, charging and storage. Where a maker says nothing, we say so. The rules differ from one maker to the next, so go by the section for your own scooter.

• Snow and ice
• How cold is too cold
• Cold and the battery
• Charging
• Salt and cleaning
• Winter storage
• Covers and lights

Can you drive a mobility scooter in snow?

Not by the makers' own rules. Here is what each one says.

• Pride Mobility: avoid rain, snow, ice, salt and standing water whenever possible. Pride warns that driving in rain, snow, salt or spray, or on icy surfaces, can harm the electrical system, damage the upholstery and make the frame rust early. If you are caught out in snow or severe cold, Pride says to head for shelter at the first chance.
• Golden Technologies: the Buzzaround CarryOn and Buzzaround EX manuals say not to drive where it is icy or salted, and not to use or store the scooter where it will be exposed to rain, snow, mist or temperatures below freezing. Golden also says never to drive on a slope covered with snow, ice or salt.
• WHILL: the Model R manual lists snowy or frozen paths, puddles, and rain, fog or strong wind among the places and weather not to drive in.
• MOVO: the Brome and Sutton guides say to avoid rain, snow, ice, salt and standing water whenever possible, and the S26 manual says not to ride while it is snowing.
• eFOLDi: the Compass manual says not to ride while it is snowing, and that rain, snow, salt and icy surfaces can affect the electrical system.
• Shoprider: the Explorer 888SLN manual says not to drive in wet weather or on wet surfaces, and not to drive on a slope with a film of ice on it.

None of these makers says any scooter is designed for winter driving, and Travel Buggy publishes no winter guidance for the HELIX. In practice that means planning winter outings around cleared, dry paths and keeping an eye on the forecast.

How cold is too cold?

Only some makers publish a lowest working temperature, and the figures differ by model.

If the forecast is colder than the figure for your scooter, leave it at home.

What cold does to the battery

WHILL and Pride say the most about cold and the battery:

• WHILL says the Model R's travel distance is sometimes shorter in winter than in summer, that the scooter slows down if its battery gets very cold in temperatures below 0°C, and that it can stop while climbing a steep slope when the battery is cold. WHILL also says not to leave the battery at 0°C or below for a long time before driving.
• Pride says cold slows the power available from the battery and makes recharging take longer.

No maker gives a figure for how much range is lost in the cold, so leave plenty in reserve on winter trips. A Pride travel scooter delivered in winter may also need a little time: Pride says its batteries can meet temperature extremes during shipping, and it may take a few days for them to settle to room temperature.

Charging in winter: bring the battery inside

Here is what each maker says about charging.

If the scooter has to live in the garage or the car, Golden's Charge Deck lets you charge Buzzaround EX and LX batteries inside the house while the scooter stays put. Shoprider's Canadian distributor also says the Spirit GK10 batteries can be charged out of the scooter.

Salt, wet and cleaning

• Pride says salt and wet weather can make the frame rust early. Dry the scooter thoroughly before you store it, charge it or drive it, and keep the tiller console dry.
• Never hose a scooter down. Pride, MOVO and Shoprider all say so. Golden says not to use excess water or pressure, never to use a high pressure hose and never to take the scooter through a car wash, and WHILL says not to use a high pressure washer.
• Wipe it instead. eFOLDi and MOVO say to use a damp cloth with a mild detergent, and Shoprider says a soft damp cloth with mild detergent only.
• Pride says not to use a rubber or vinyl conditioner on the seat or the tires of its travel scooters, because they become slippery.

Storing a scooter for the winter

If the scooter will sit for the season, here is what each maker asks.

For long storage, Pride suggests setting its travel scooters on a few boards under the frame to take the weight off the tires.

Covers, canopies and lights

A cover helps between rides, but the makers' storage advice still applies: indoors, or warm and dry.

• Pride Weather Cover: Pride says it shields a scooter from snow, rain and wind, and it is made from durable vinyl.
• Golden Scooter Cover: water resistant nylon that Golden says protects from sun and dust, with grommets for bungee cords (not included) and a stuff sack for storage.
• Shoprider Scooter Canopy: a height adjustable, water resistant rain and sun shade by NYACC Designs that mounts to the seat plate.

Winter days are short, so lights matter. Pride says to use the scooter's lights whenever visibility is restricted, day or night, and suggests reflectors, lights and safety flags to stay visible to traffic. WHILL says to turn the front light on at night. eFOLDi lists no lights on the Compass, so plan its outings for daylight.

Winter questions we hear

Can I use my mobility scooter in the snow?

Not by any maker's rules we found. Pride and MOVO say to avoid snow and ice whenever possible, Golden says not to drive where it is icy or salted, WHILL lists snowy or frozen paths among the places not to drive, and eFOLDi and MOVO's S26 manual say not to ride while it is snowing. Stick to cleared, dry paths.

Does cold weather drain a scooter battery?

WHILL says the Model R's travel distance is sometimes shorter in winter and that it slows down if its battery gets very cold below 0°C. Pride says cold slows the power available and makes recharging take longer. No maker gives a percentage, so plan shorter trips in the cold.

Can I charge my scooter in an unheated garage?

The makers point indoors. Pride says the Go-Go Super Portable should only be charged at room temperature and not in cold garages, WHILL says to charge indoors at 0°C to 40°C, Shoprider says its charger is for indoor use only, and the Golden CarryOn's battery pack comes off so it can be charged indoors. Never charge a frozen battery.

Is any mobility scooter waterproof?

No maker we checked says a scooter can be ridden in heavy rain. WHILL rates the Model R at IPX5 with the battery attached, which it says protects from light rain, and still says to avoid heavy rain. Pride's owner's manuals rate its travel, mid size and Super Portable scooters IPX4, and MOVO's S26 manual calls that scooter splashproof at IPX4. Each of these makers still says to avoid rain.

How do I get road salt off my scooter?

Wipe it with a damp cloth and a mild detergent, then dry it thoroughly. Do not hose it, pressure wash it or take it through a car wash.

Can I leave my scooter outside under a cover?

The makers say to store scooters indoors, or somewhere warm and dry. Pride says its weather cover shields a scooter from snow, rain and wind, but Pride's own manuals still say to store the scooter in a warm, dry place.