Razor launches Ground Force Elite electric go-kart, big enough for adult-sized fun
Razor has been hard at work expanding its electric vehicle lineup lately with larger, more powerful versions of its existing vehicles. The latest segment of the Razor fleet to get the extra big-kid treatment is showcased in the new Razor Ground Force Elite electric go-kart.
Razor describes the new electric kart as “a premium 36-volt electric go-kart for teens combining power and performance for the ultimate driving experience.”
But with its 200 lb. (91 kg) weight rating, it seems like you could already have your high school days in the rearview mirror and still make weigh-in on race day.
In fact, the kart’s minimum age rating of 13 years old shows this isn’t a kids’ toy, it’s a serious little electric go-kart.
The new Razor Ground Force Elite is part of a continued push by Razor to roll out teen- and adult-sized versions of its popular electric kids’ ride-on vehicles. That means that the Ground Force Elite also comes with better performance.
A top speed of 14 mph (23 km/h) is possible, which likely feels a lot faster when your cheeks are 2 inches from kissing the pavement.
Make sure you enjoy every minute of it, because the new electric go-kart is one of those things in life that are here for a good time, not a long time. With “up to 40 minutes” of run-time per charge, you’re going to want to savor every lap.
But before you dismiss this cart as a toy, consider that Razor has actually outfitted the thing with some decent features like an adjustable steering wheel.
As the company explained:
Designed to mimic the look of racing karts, it features a bucket seat with a lap strap, adjustable steering wheel, and foot pedal-activated disc brake that allows smooth and precise braking. This new go-kart is the perfect opportunity to bring home an experience normally reserved for the racetrack.
The Elite’s blow-molded design enables the chassis to flex, improving steering geometry and ride dynamics by allowing all four wheels to remain in constant contact with the ground. The tires are subtly crowned for reduced rolling resistance which improves battery life and the overall speed.
The electric go-kart is powered by a 36V system, though it uses a trio of lead acid batteries instead of higher-end and lighter lithium-ion batteries. While that choice results in a heavier kart (67 lb. or 30.5 kg) with batteries that don’t last for as many years, it also makes it safer for charging at home and reduces the kart’s overall cost.
Speaking of the price tag, the Razor Ground Force Elite is surprisingly affordable at $549, though Amazon seems to currently have it on sale for $547. Compare that to Segway’s adult-sized electric go-kart that launched at between 3-4x this price.
Razor’s vice president of design and development Ian Desberg commented on Razor’s strategy of expanding its market to a broader age range:
The Ground Force Elite is the newest, largest, and most exciting addition to our Ground Force range. It joins the perennial, mid-size Ground Force which has been in the Razor lineup for many years and soon we’ll launch an even smaller Ground Force Rad Rod for kids. Our goals center around getting the whole family moving and playing together, so accordingly, the Ground Force go-kart series has compelling and age-appropriate options for children, tweens and teens.
Razor has shown a focused interest lately in fleshing out its line of electric rideables with more teen- and adult-sized offerings.
The moped-style Rambler 12 and Rambler 16 electric bikes were recently joined by the new Rambler 20 for adult riders. While it features a similar styling to the smaller Ramblers, the new version has fully functional pedals, a 500W motor and a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h).
I haven’t yet tested out the Razor Ground Force Elite electric go-kart, but I have gotten my hands on several other new adult-sized Razor vehicles. Electrek readers might remember that in recent months I’ve tested both the Icon retro-styled standing scooter and the EcoSmart Cargo seated scooter. Razor also offers two other adult-focused rides with the Crazy Cart XL and Dirt Quad 500.
As the company expands further into the adult segment, developing larger versions of popular kids’ products, it appears that Razor has its sights set on competing against the larger market of adult e-bikes and recreational rideables.
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Solar panel giant Qcells announced today that it’s temporarily furloughing 1,000 US workers – 25% of its workforce – and reducing pay and shifts at its factories in northeast Georgia due to supply chain delays caused by US Customs.
Qcells furloughs 1,000 workers
The supply chain delays are hindering the company’s ability to import components to build its solar panels. This has resulted in Qcells’ two factories in Cartersville and Dalton being unable to operate at full capacity for several months.
Qcells spokeswoman Marta Stoepker shared the following statement in an exclusive with Channel 2 Action News in Atlanta:
The company says the furloughed workers, who were notified this afternoon, will retain full benefits and won’t be laid off. However, Qcells will no longer be using staffing agency employees in Georgia “at this time.”
As Qcells introduced new supply chains to support its growing solar panel manufacturing facilities in Georgia, the company was recently forced to scale back production while our shipments into the US were delayed in the customs clearance process.
Although our supply chain operations are beginning to normalize, today we shared with our employees that HR actions must be taken to improve operational efficiency until production capacity returns to normal levels.
Stoepker said it expects to bring the furloughed workers back “in the coming weeks and months.” She continued:
Our commitment to building the entire solar supply chain in the United States remains. We will soon be back on track with the full force of our Georgia team delivering American-made energy to communities around the country.
Electrek’s Take
In January 2023, the Seoul-headquartered Qcells announced it would invest more than $2.5 billion to build a solar supply chain in Georgia – the largest-ever investment in clean energy manufacturing in the US to date. That included expanding the Dalton solar factory and building a fully integrated solar supply chain factory in Cartersville, Georgia, that will manufacture solar ingots, wafers, cells, and finished panels.
It’s not quite there yet, because that takes time. In the meantime, it’s being penalized by Customs. The US government under Trump says it’s keen on boosting domestic manufacturing. Why would it work against a company that’s onshoring an entire solar supply chain, including recycling?
Dalton and Cartersville employ nearly 4,000 people. Its total output will reach 8.4 GW of solar production capacity per year, which is equivalent to nearly 46,000 panels per day – enough to power approximately 1.3 million homes annually.
It’s ludicrous that it has been forced to furlough a quarter of its workforce due to the ineptness of the Trump administration’s US Customs policies. This is right up there with the ICE arrests at Hyundai’s plant in Georgia. Bravo.
Read more: Georgia gives US solar panel manufacturing a big boost with a new factory
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The breakthrough EV batteries Toyota says will double driving range and cut charging times are facing another setback. The company is once again delaying plans for a new battery plant in Japan.
Why is Toyota delaying its EV battery plant this time?
Earlier this year, Toyota bought a 280,000-square-meter plot of land in Fukuoka, Japan, where it planned to build a plant to produce the more advanced EV batteries.
A location agreement was expected to be signed by April, but Toyota pushed back construction by several months, blaming slower-than-expected demand for electric vehicles.
The agreement was expected to be finalized this Fall, but that will no longer be the case. According to Nikkei, Toyota is delaying the EV battery plant for the second time. Toyota will review and adjust plans over the next year.
Fukuoka governor, Seitaro Hattori, confirmed the news with reporters on Friday following a meeting with Toyota’s president, Koji Sato. Hattori also shut down claims that Toyota was planning to scrap the battery plant altogether.
Toyota again blamed slowing EV demand for the delay. The decision comes despite Keiji Kaita, president of Toyota’s Carbon Neutral Advanced Engineering Development Center, confirming at the Japan Mobility Show just last week that it’s “sticking on the schedule” to introduce its first solid-state battery-powered EV by 2028.
Last month, Toyota said it aimed to “achieve the world’s first practical use of all-solid-state batteries in BEVs” after securing a partnership with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. to mass-produce them. It’s also working with Japanese oil giant Idemitsu.
The company recently revealed a solid-state battery pack prototype that it claims can deliver 747 miles (1,200 km) range and 10-minute fast charging, but will we ever see it actually in production?
Electrek’s Take
Toyota has been making empty promises about EV batteries for almost a decade now. It initially planned to introduce solid-state EV batteries in 2020, then pushed it to 2023, then 2026, and now it’s saying it will be around 2028.
Mass production is likely closer to the end of the decade, if Toyota doesn’t delay it again. While it’s blaming the slowing demand, global EV sales are still on the rise. According to Rho Motion, global EV sales topped 2 million for the first time in a single month in September 2025. Through the first nine months of the year, EV sales are up 26% compared to the same period in 2024.
Even with the US ending the $7,500 federal tax credit and other policies designed to promote electric vehicles, global adoption will continue building momentum over the next few years.
Is it a demand issue, or is Toyota just looking for another excuse? With rivals like Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, BMW, and Honda advancing next-gen EV batteries, Toyota will only fall further behind if it continues delaying key projects.
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