Apollo Scooters Data Shows Freezing Weather Causes Modest 12% Range Loss

Newly published real-world data from Apollo Scooters indicates that electric scooters experience a modest 12% reduction in battery range at freezing temperatures (32°F or 0°C), countering widely cited online claims of 20% to 50% losses. The findings are based on analysis of over half a million rides.

Cold-Weather Range Findings

According to data collected from 512,359 rides across 8,449 scooters between April 2025 and October 2026, cold-weather range loss develops gradually rather than dropping precipitously:

• At 50°F (10°C): Approximately 5% range loss.
• At 41°F (5°C): Approximately 10% range loss.
• At 32°F (0°C): Approximately 12% range loss (a 25-mile trip drops to about 22 miles).
• At 20°F (-7°C): Approximately 13% range loss.

Apollo reported that winter range reductions are entirely temporary. Riders dropped to 86% of their fall range during winter months but recovered to 98% by spring, closely aligning with scooters that were never ridden in cold conditions. Furthermore, battery capacity did not alter the percentage loss; models ranging from 540 Wh to 1,800 Wh experienced a consistent 10% to 15% reduction near freezing.

Long-Term Battery Durability

A separate analysis encompassing 1.1 million rides on 49,837 scooters since August 2021 found no measurable battery range degradation through 2,500 miles (4,000 km), which represents approximately six years of typical usage. Data showed that scooters are more frequently parked rather than worn out, with 60% of units surpassing 5,000 miles still actively ridden in the preceding three months.

Practical Implications and Verification

• Commute Planning: Apollo advises riders to size their electric scooter for November commuting conditions rather than July, factoring in a 15% buffer for round trips.
• Regional Usage: Winter riding frequency varied significantly by location, driven primarily by snow, ice, and road salt rather than battery chemistry. In New York, roughly one in five summer riders continued in January, compared to fewer than one in fifty in Montreal.
• Data Source: The findings reflect data exclusively from Apollo app rides and apply to Apollo scooter models, though the thermal behavior relates to standard lithium-ion battery chemistry.

Readers can examine the complete methodology, charts, and original reports directly on the official Apollo Scooters blog.