How Long Will An Electric Golf Cart Last On A Full Charge?

Most modern golf carts are electric, therefore their use has a little negative effect on the environment? But when does their battery expire, exactly? When completely charged, how long can a golf cart’s battery life be expected to power the vehicle? And what is the best quality battery? Let’s find out!

How Long Does A Fully Charged Electric Golf Cart Last

An electric golf cart with brand-new batteries will normally have a driving range of anywhere from 25 to 40 miles, depending on the kind, the voltage, and the battery arrangement of the vehicle? Golf carts may be powered by a four-stroke gas engine or a 36-48 volt electric motor running on alternating current or direct current. Initially, these carts could only be propelled by electricity, but eventually, gasoline-powered variants were also introduced. Most municipalities prefer electric carts over gas-powered ones. They are quieter and pose less of a threat to pedestrians and other vehicles on the road.

Although some golf carts may go farther than 50 miles on a single full charge, this is not advised since it can shorten the battery’s lifetime and might leave you stranded if the cart’s power requirements exceed what the single battery can provide. The dc motors used in electric golf carts are also distinct from those seen in gas-powered vehicles. An AC drive will typically be more efficient than a DC drive in terms of energy use. But fantastic and easy to use, electric golf carts are a great choice for transportation. In addition to not contributing to pollution, they also need nothing in the way of upkeep.

Difference Between 2 and 4 Seaters

Whether they run on electricity or gasoline, the most common types of golf carts are either four-seaters or two-seaters, with some models offering even more seating options. The two-seater carts often provide higher performance and a longer driving range, but they can carry fewer people and less stuff. If you’re looking for ways to increase your golf cart’s speed, you should know that the extra weight also slows it down. But, at 56 amps, the battery will last for around 40 minutes, which is plenty of time for a regular round of golf.

Depth if Discharge Explained

The depth of discharge (DOD) of the battery is another important metric to consider. The proportion of the battery’s entire capacity that has been discharged before being recharged is the depth of discharge. The number of times a battery may be fully depleted and recharged is limited. To maximize the lifespan of the battery, it’s important to keep the depth of discharge at a minimum. Also, a battery’s lifetime may be increased by as much as 2.2 times if it is routinely discharged to just 30% of its capacity, rather than the full 60%, of its capacity. Longevity is increased by a factor of two for 6-volt and 8-volt batteries compared to 12-volt batteries. The presence of lead is crucial to comprehending how a deep-cycle battery functions.

More lead means a higher charging capacity and longer battery life. Cheaper batteries often have a lower lead content than their more expensive counterparts. One study found that a cheaper, lower-quality battery might be up to 15 pounds lighter than a more expensive, higher-quality battery.  Therefore, the electrical components will use less energy and will have a shorter run duration. This suggests that the cheaper batteries put more strain on the electronics, hastening their deterioration.

Factors That Shorten The Lifespan Of Golf Cart Batteries

Overcharging

One of the main causes of golf cart batteries dying prematurely is their habitual overcharging. This occurs when the manual charger keeps sending electricity into the battery after it has reached its full capacity, causing the battery’s internal components to overheat. So, your battery’s life span will be drastically reduced if you do this repeatedly. Thankfully, most modern chargers are in auto mode (automatic charger), so they can be programmed to stop charging the battery once it has reached its full capacity. 

As long as the charge time and power supply are operational, there is no danger of overcharging. However, many chargers do not offer an automatic shut-off option, thus it is recommended that you make use of an alarm clock in such a situation. If you take care on a regular basis to prevent your batteries from ever being overcharged, they will likely serve you for a much longer time than they otherwise would.

Maintenance

The frequency of battery maintenance, or lack thereof, is a major factor in the battery’s lifespan. Keeping in mind that the batteries need to be filled out with water at least once a month is the most crucial maintenance task. Moreover, DISTILLED water, rather than tap water, should be used. Further, before using them, ensure that they are fully charged. Also, batteries need to be cleaned as part of their upkeep. Corrosion around the battery terminals is something that may happen over time. This has to be cleaned as soon as possible and as thoroughly as feasible to prevent significant harm, in other words, proper care is necessary.

Also, it’s good practice to always completely recharge your batteries after using them. Doing nothing for long periods of time is bad for their health. So, regularly draining and charging a battery is good for its general health and will help to increase its battery lifespan. You should also ensure that they are being charged in a well-ventilated area. Therefore, they won’t overheat in the situation due to hot weather or another number of factors. In other words, the battery performance will be checked this way.

Battery Quality

Just as with most other things, you get what you pay for when it comes to golf cart batteries. There are options accessible today that don’t break the bank but nevertheless manage to last for years without sacrificing quality. In contrast, you’ll have to spend some of the higher amounts of money if you want a new battery that might possibly last you as long as 10 years.

Usage Oftenness (Frequency of use)

Some golf carts are used much more often than others, which has to have an impact on the batteries’ total lifetime. Compared to two or three rounds of golf played daily by the average privately owned golf cart, the battery packs of golf cart fleets receive far more consumption. In addition, the batteries in fleet carts have an average life of four to six years. A privately owned golf cart operated for an average of three rounds per week will likely outlive this estimate only owing to the fact that the battery is being put to far less usage.

Storage

When storing a golf cart battery for a lengthy period of time, it is important to do it in a cool, dry location. If your battery power is left in a hot cart for a long time, its life expectancy will decrease significantly. Despite the fact that lithium batteries fare best when stored at lower temperatures, you should still aim to keep them out of areas where freezing temperatures are likely to occur. It is also recommended that you check the voltage of your fully charged batteries once every six weeks and give them a boost charge when they have less than 70 percent of their capacity remaining.

Conclusion

There is no foolproof way to predict how long one will last. On the other hand, if you buy from a trustworthy manufacturer and use the type of battery with care, you may easily get 10 years of use out of a single unit. And with proper maintenance as a general rule, you can use your battery-powered golf cart for even an additional 2-4 years.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jim has been an avid golfer and golf fan for over 40 years. He started a YouTube channel called Golf Plus about a year ago and it has been wildly successful. It only made sense to expand and reach more golfers with this site and social media. You can learn more about Jim and Golf Plus Media Group by visiting our About Page.

Jim Krautkremer

Content Creator