Electric Transport at the Racetrack: Testing PEVs at Virginia International Raceway

Last year, the Car and Driver Gear Team joined the editorial crew at Lightning Lap, the annual test of speed and performance at Virginia International Raceway (VIR). The event’s focus is to set the fastest lap times possible with the year’s top new performance cars. The 2024 experience was a blast, which led us to ask, “How can we make our behind-the-scenes testing a little more fun and efficient?” One answer stood out: Personal electric vehicles (PEVs).

PEVs include bikes, scooters, longboards, and similar transportation. Besides being entertaining, they’re well-suited for getting around a racetrack. You might even recognize some from our electric scooter test, which reviews the specs of the models below. For this endeavor, we assembled a selection of PEVs, along with essential tools, parts, and accessories (we are, after all, the Gear Team). We packed everything into our reliable Hyundai Santa Cruz and its U-Haul trailer and headed for Virginia for Lightning Lap 2025.

Our Top Picks

Here’s a quick look at some of the PEVs we tested.

• Midrange Favorite

  • Segway Ninebot Max G2
  • $1,000 $881 at Amazon Read more

• Most Distinctive Design

  • Navee S40
  • $700 at Amazon Read more

• Best Entry-Level Scooter

  • Segway Ninebot E2 Plus
  • $400 $300 at Amazon Read more

• Most Impressive Battery

  • Unagi Model One Voyager
  • Shop at Unagi Scooters Read more

• The SuperScooter

  • Segway GT2 SuperScooter
  • Shop at Walmart

• Most Nimble Bike

  • Lectric ONE
  • $2,507 $2,199 at Lectric eBikes Read more

• Best Electric Longboard for Beginners

  • Backfire Ranger X5
  • $1,299 $1,199 at Backfire Boards Read more

• Best Electric Longboard for Experienced Riders

  • Linnpower EVO MK-1 Pro
  • $1,899 $1,399 at Linnpower Read more

• Best Helmet

  • Arai Corsair-X Kiyonari Trico Helmet
  • $1,000 at Revzilla Read more

• Full Body Protection

  • Alpinestars KMX-9 V3 Racing Suit
  • $300 at Alpinestars Read more

Key Takeaways:

The Segway Ninebot Max G2 was consistently popular, which wasn’t surprising since it was our top pick from the Best Electric Scooters test. The Lectric ONE e-bike offered excellent long-range travel throughout VIR. The Backfire Ranger X5 handled well and proved to be a fun option for navigating the paddock.

After a night of travel, plus food, gas, and sightseeing stops, we arrived at the track. Various supercars greeted us, increasing anticipation for the days ahead. We set up our PEVs and gear in a garage on pit lane and got to work. Below are our thoughts on the PEVs and accessories we used.

PEVs at Lightning Lap

Midrange Favorite

Segway Ninebot Max G2

• Pros: Well-rounded, Excellent suspension, Great app
• Cons: A bit of throttle lag, Short charging cord

The Segway Ninebot Max G2 quickly became a favorite. Possessing speed, comfort, and handling in equal measure, its suspension stood out, making long rides across VIR’s diverse surfaces comfortable and fast. The Max G2 was heavily used and earned team consensus. We selected it as our top pick in our Best Electric Scooters test.

Most Distinctive Design

Navee S40

• Pros: Great suspension, Unique styling, Fairly quick
• Cons: Braking feels soft

The Navee S40 was a great choice for comfortable travel as well as riding at night. The headlights are bright enough to make travel safe. This scooter offers strong acceleration. While we noted great acceleration, the brakes weren’t as strong as we’d like, so give yourself plenty of room to stop. The S40 was a favorite for comfortable trips.

Best Entry-Level Scooter

Segway Ninebot E2 Plus

• Pros: Nimble, Respectable battery life
• Cons: No suspension

The Segway Ninebot E2 Plus is perfect for short hops. This scooter isn’t great on rough roads because of the lack of suspension, but the ergonomics and sleek design are pleasing. Its maneuverability makes it fun at lower speeds, and it’s easy to transport. Its reliability made it a worthwhile method of transportation.

Most Impressive Battery

Unagi Model One Voyager

• Pros: Sleek design, Peppy
• Cons: Low top speed, No suspension

The Unagi Model One Voyager was one of the favorites, mainly because of its design and color scheme. Unlike a previous test, we didn’t scientifically measure range at VIR, but it lasted a week on a single charge. It folds up easily for transport. It was great for getting around the parking lot.

The SuperScooter

Segway GT2 SuperScooter

• Pros: Insanely fast, Smooth ride
• Cons: Very heavy, Not for the average rider

The Segway GT2 was a staff favorite at VIR. Its speed is almost too fast for typical commuter use, but it was perfect fun for ripping around the VIR property. It’s very heavy, so loading and unloading it was a task. The battery charge seemed to last all day, which made for high-speed riding. Riding this scooter offers an experience that is unlike other PEVs that we brought.

Editor’s Note: A newer model of this scooter, the Segway GT3, has replaced the GT2 on the market. While you may find a stray GT2 available for purchase, the new GT3 has superseded it at most retailers. The new model has a lower claimed top speed (31 mph) than the GT2—a trade-off that, while understandable, is a bit disappointing.

Most Nimble Bike

Lectric ONE

• Pros: Still provides some exercise, Intuitive controls
• Cons: Not the most comfortable

This Lectric ONE long-range e-bike was a great means of travel across VIR. Some team members didn’t feel the seat was comfortable, but everyone enjoyed using the bike. Experimenting with pedal assist and electronic gears was a fun challenge.

Best Electric Longboard for Beginners

Backfire Ranger X5

• Pros: Intuitive controller, Smooth ride
• Cons: Steep learning curve, Relatively expensive

This electric longboard is designed for street use. The remote was easy to figure out and the customization of the Ranger X5’s acceleration and braking thresholds was attractive. It carved its lines well and was fun to ride around the paddock.

Best Electric Longboard for Experienced Riders

Linnpower EVO MK-1 Pro

• Pros: Great off-road capabilities, Grippy deck
• Cons: Poor high-speed performance on pavement, Steep learning curve, Difficult assembly

Unlike the Ranger X5, the Linnpower EVO MK-1 Pro is made for off-pavement use. The looser trucks and wider-spaced wheels made it more difficult to reach higher speeds on the asphalt. It was fun to get the hang of over the course of the week, but this board is aimed at experienced riders. It also took a while to put together.

Safety Gear (Team)

We connected with racing outfitter Alpinestars to protect our riders and with Arai for our helmets.

Best Helmet

Arai Corsair-X Kiyonari Trico Helmet

• Pros: Tons of style variety, Intricate sizing for the perfect fit
• Cons: Visor swap mechanism has a learning curve, Rather expensive but worth it

These Corsair-X helmets were a perfect addition for Lightning Lap week. The helmet suits different head shapes and sizes by using the internal adjustment system and removable padding.

Full Body Protection

Alpinestars KMX-9 V3 Racing Suit

• Pros: Comfortable, Great build quality
• Cons: The form-fit can make it tough to get in and out

Thanks to the stretch panels, these suits fit well, plus they were comfortable. The suits also kept us warm during chilly mornings, but they offered breathable mesh areas. Each suit comes in its own carrying case, which has a glove pocket.

Hand Protection

Alpinestars Tech-1 K Race V2 Vertical Gloves

• Pros: Touchscreen compatibility, Great color options
• Cons: No knuckle armor

These gloves are designed for karting. They barely inhibit mobility, and they have a grippy silicone material great for holding onto scooter and bike handlebars. They have touchscreen material on the thumb and index fingers.

Other Essential Track-Day Gear

Best Mechanical Gloves

• PIP MaxiFlex Gloves

Best Electric Cooler

• Igloo ICF 60 Electric Cooler

Handy Portable Tool Set

• DeWalt Wrench and Socket Kit