Electric Cart - Pros and Cons

ELECTRIC CART ADVANTAGES
No gas to purchase on a regular basis
Silent running
Can be operated smoothly at any speed
Runs normally when cold
Doesn't require annual "tune up"
No exhaust pollution
Costs less to buy used than gas carts

ELECTRIC CAR DISADVANTAGES
Requires regular checking and maintenance of battery water
Requires regular cleaning of corrosion of battery terminals
Limited range between recharging: about 12 miles
Periodically requires purchase of new batteries (2-6 years)
May not perform well with heavy loads or up very steep hills

Note: there are two power systems on golf carts...36Volt and 48Volt.
Just like the way a 18 volt drill is more powerful than a 12 volt drill, so a 48 volt cart is more powerful than a 36 volt cart. Shop carefully!

Click to shop for new or used electric golf carts

Gas Cart - Pros and Cons

GAS CART ADVANTAGES

• Range before filling fuel tank: Up to 200 miles.
• (Differs significantly by make)
• Avoid periodic cost of battery replacement. ($450-650)
• Familiar maintenance, similar to other small engines
• Usually performs better in very hilly environments
• Holds value better than electric
  

GAS CART DISADVANTAGES

• Requires annual tune ups (or maybe every other year)
• More expensive to buy used
• Noisier than an electric car
• Difficult to drive very slowly
• Requires manual choking in cold weather
• Produces some exhaust gas pollutants

Click to shop for new or used gas golf carts

Help on buying Golf Cart Batteries

Buy the best batteries...you do get what you pay for.
Regularly check the water level in the batteries. If low, add only enough water to cover the plates BEFORE recharging, then AFTER charging top off water level to about 1/2 inch below the full level. Overfilling will cause the acid to overflow and cause damage to the battery hold downs and even the vehicle frame in extreme cases
Regularly clean corrosion from the battery terminals. Use baking soda solution on the terminal ends, and spray with battery terminal protectant available at most auto stores.
Charge only as needed. With light use, once a week or even once every two weeks may be adequate. A fully charged golf cart battery set was designed for 36 to 54 holes of golf, then to be recharged. A round of golf is about 7 miles.
If you golf cart has a period of no use, keep the charged plugged in AND once a month unplug and re-plug the charger. This will allow the charger to update the charge reading and re-charge the battery as needed.
Click here to order replacement battery cables and hold down rods

HOW LONG WILL ELECTRIC GOLF CAR BATTERIES LAST

This is a loaded question. The answer can range from one year to seven or eight years, depending on a number of factors:

• Quality of the battery when new
• Frequency of use
• Type of use
• Total hours used
• Number of charge cycles
• Proper watering of the batteries
• Maintenance of the battery terminals

For example, a golf cart with a rear seat, cheapest possible batteries, used to haul 4 adults up and down hills, used for several hours every day, charged every day, with little or no battery maintenance...
You will be lucky to go 18 months!

On the other hand, a golf cart with good batteries (Trojan or equal), used on level to slightly rolling ground, used occasionally and intermitantly, charged only when needed, with regular cleaning of the terminals and watering...
expect at least 5 years, 6 or 7 if you are lucky and extra dilligent about maintenance!

Click here to order replacement battery cables and hold down rods

HOW DO I HAUL MY GOLF CART?

Hauling a standard golf cart can be done one of two ways:

• In the back of a full-suzed pickup truck
• On a small trailer

HAULING ON A PICKUP TRUCK
Standard, unmodified Golf cars measure slightly less than 8 foot long by slightly less than 4 foot wide (regardless of make). A FULL SIZE pickup - (not the Rangers, Frontiers, Tacomas) has a bed that is 4 foot wide between the tire wells, so the golf car will fit nicely.

If the full sized pickup has an extended bed (long bed) it will measure 8 foot with the tailgate closed, so no problem. Just drive it on! (See LOADING, below)

If the pickup is a standard bed, then you will need to leave the tailgate down and secure the cart solidly with heavy duty hauling straps. Since most of the weight of a golf cart is on the REAR WHEELS, we recommend backing the cart into the truck bed to reduce the amount of weight on the tailgate.

LOADING
The best method for loading is with a pair of aluminum ramps made for this purpose. They are lightweight, will fit under the golf cart after loading, and they are arched to prevent bottoming out during the loading and unloading. (Available at our parts department; item number 700626, price $150.00 per pair. Call 800-456-1577)
If your are very careful AND if you have the right terrain at both ends of your trip, it is possible to load by backing up to a ditch where the wheels of the truck drop down and the tailgate, in the down position, will touch the ground.
Lastly, we strongly recommend securing your cart with at least two nylon packing straps, ratcheted down tightly.

HAULING ON A TRAILER
There are many, many trailer options that will work for hauling a golf cart.
Remember the dimensions: slightly less than 8 foot long by slightly less than 4 foot wide (regardless of make).
Another decision to be made is whether to choose a tilt-down trailer or one with a fold-down ramp.
The tilt type trailers are usually less expensive, but a little more difficult to use. You may have to back the golf cart on thuis type of trailer to get enough weight past the pivot point so the tilt will happen. If you ever have to add weight to make the tilt happen, be very, very careful where you stand: When the tilt happens, it will happen suddenly and any hands or toes in the way will become victims!

The tailgate type trailers cost a little more, but don't create the loading hazard we described above. If you are hauling for very short distances, then any wheel size trailer is okay. If however you are hauling a lot on interstates at 70 mph, then we recommend automotive size wheels.

As we stated above, we strongly recommend securing your cart with at least two nylon packing straps, ratcheted down tightly.

GAS OR ELECTRIC?
This is probably the most often asked question in the business!

Gasoline powered golf cars are powered by traditional small gasoline engines with an oversized electric starter designed for frequent starting.

Electric golf carts are powered by an DC electric motor, supplied by 6 deep cycle batteries, and are normally sold with a special charger designed for the cart.

Both have advantages and disadvantages. Before looking at the pros and cons, here are a few automatic selection factors:

• If your use of the cart requires continuous operation for over 2 hours, no stopping, then you need a gasoline powered car. Electric carts are designed for 36 holes of golf between charging. (36 holes of golf is about 12 miles, with starting and stopping)
• If you plan to use the cart indoors extensively, then you need an electric car. There is no effective way to eliminate the exhaust fumes from a gas powered car.
• If there is a need for no noise, then choose an electric cart. Gas carts are not very noisy, but electric carts make no noise.

A few common uses and recommendations:
Campgrounds: Either gas or electric

Lake homes: Gas if adding read seat for steep hill use, or if teen-agers who will drive the car all day long. Otherwise either is suitable.

Indoor facilities use: Electric

Elderly use: Electric

Hunting: Electric if noise a concern. Gas if distance a concern

Neighborhood use: Either one

Click to see photos of vehicles for recreational applications

Click to see photos of vehicles for commercial applications

The golf cart information blog is finally here!

I couldn't believe that there wasn't a basic golf cart information exchange blog, so now there is one. This should provide a new forum for so many of the questions we hear about golf carts, or golf cars, if you prefer.

Please post view on the many related subjects:
Gas versus Electric?
Parts and accessories
Customizing
Identifying the make, model and year of a golf cart
Utility Vehicles: Golf Carts on Steroids
Maintaining a golf car
Used golf cart values

I am co-owner of a golf cart company, and hope all find this valuable!
Click here for new and used golf car information
Click here for great deals on golf cart parts