Are Electric Bikes Waterproof?

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The quick answer: Are electric bikes waterproof?

Technically speaking, no, e-bikes are not waterproof. However, they won’t start smoking and come to a grinding halt if they come into contact with rain or splashes. Most electric bikes are water-resistant, but that can cover everything from a splash, water drops up to heavy jets of water.

Are there any fully waterproof e-bikes you can buy?

There’s no standard level of waterproofing on e-bikes and it varies a lot between brands and models.

There aren’t currently any e-bikes available that are fully waterproof (we’re talking where you could submerge them in a river … but then who would need to do that?)

IP rating and why it’s important

It’s worth touching on the less-than-fascinating subject of IP numbers, for a second. IP or ‘Ingress Protection’ is an industry-standard number that states how waterproof (and dustproof) a product is. It’s on everything from outside lighting to e-bikes.

The liquid side of the scale goes from 0 (no protection) up to 5 (protection against water jets from any angle!) all the way up to 8 – which is basically a submarine.

Frustratingly, some e-bike websites don’t list the IP number in the stats. Instead, they’ll list it as ‘water resistant’. Dig deeper and get the actual number and then check that against an IP liquid chart. That will give you the best idea of whether your bike can handle being wet, getting splashed etc.

Different parts of your bike might have different levels of waterproofing

Another common gotcha is that websites often state an electric bike’s IP rating as a single number. However, different parts of the bike could have a different IP ratings.

For example, the display could be a completely separate IP from the motor unit.

The real reason e-bikes aren’t waterproof

Because of the way eBikes are built, and the fact that the components are spread throughout the frame, and connected with cables, it would be a difficult and expensive job to make an e-bike IP rating 8.

While it’s definitely possible, it would add to the cost of the product. And, to be fair, it’s probably overkilled for what most people need. If you’re a regular cyclist or have spent any time riding a bike when was the last time you rode through deep puddles, or even went for a ride in the rain?

Why can’t you get an e-bike wet?

Anyone who has dropped their phone in the bath will tell you; electricity + water = bad. Very bad. Not only do electric components break when they come in contact with water, but there’s also all the minerals in water that can really mess with wiring and circuitry.

And electric bikes have wired components spread throughout the frame, from the LED lights to the display and, of course, the motor.

What happens if you do get your electric bikes wet?

‘Getting wet’ covers a multitude of things. Most e-bikes aren’t going to drop

Making your bike more waterproof

Do –

Don’t – try to shore up exposed areas with electricians tape. This can lead you to a false sense of security as it’s not technically waterproof and won’t provide much protection.

References and further reading