close
GolfGolf Equipment

Golf Cart Batteries Buying Guide – Some Tips to get The Best

golf_cart_battery

We have the power to keep your Golf Cart moving with 6V, 8V and 12V deep cycle battery models along with a full line of 12V starting batteries. We have fully sealed AGM, Gel, and flooded lead acid batteries for Golf carts.

 

Golf Cart Battery Features

Electric golf cart batteries operate purely on the power of deep cycle batteries. Here are the primary features of a deep cycle golf cart battery to understand.

Designed with thicker plates, higher density active paste material and thicker separators to withstand the rigors of deep discharging and recharging cycles.

Twin terminal design for simplified connection for primary power and accessories

Convenient handle for easy installation

Advanced AGM and gel batteries have a spill proof design with casing engineered to withstand heat and vibration elements

 

Golf Cart Battery Charging and Maintenance

Proper charging, maintenance and storing practices are just as important to the life and operation of your Golf Cart battery as choosing the right battery. Deep cycle batteries work best when the charge is maintained – do not store the battery in a discharged state. Your local Batteries Plus Bulbs can help to identify the best charger for your golf cart.

 

Golf Cart Battery Quality Commitment

Batteries Plus Bulbs only offers Golf Cart batteries that meet our high quality standards. Our batteries provide reliable performance with true capacity ratings that reflect real world use. Contact us or visit your nearest store for complete product specifications or performance information.

 

Commercial Accounts and Recycling

We are an industry leader for the volume supply of Golf Cart batteries and their proper recycling. Each of our store locations is positioned to support your Golf Cart needs, whether it be for one battery or a truckload. Stores are also a drop-off point for battery recycling.

 

Listed here are the Golf Cart batteries that we recommend for use in any of the major electric golf carts from EZ Go, to Club Car, and many in between.  Choose from Trojan and MK batteries, both offering a high quality repalcement battery that is made in the United States.

 

The Best Golf Cart Batteries: Lithium-ion vs. Lead Acid

The golf cart battery industry is in a state of flux. On one hand we have golf cart manufacturers and retailers that realize lithium-ion batteries are better for golf cart performance and longevity than lead acid batteries. On the other hand are consumers who resist the high upfront cost of lithium golf cart batteries, and consequently still rely on inferior lead-acid battery options.

A November 2015 report that analyzes the golf cart battery market estimates the demand for golf cart batteries will increase roughly four percent between 2014 and 2019. The report estimates lead-acid batteries will account for roughly 79 percent of the golf cart battery market by 2019—mainly because of lithium’s upfront cost—but retailers and suppliers tell a different story.

RELiON supplies lithium and AGM lead-acid batteries, and we firmly believe lithium-ion golf cart batteries are the best option for manufacturers, retailers and consumers alike. Consumer buying trends support our position.

In December 2015, the U.K. golf cart manufacturers PowaKaddy and Motocaddy announced that nearly 60 percent of their carts and electronic golf accessories sold in the UK now contained lithium batteries. Unlike the rest of Europe, which already overwhelmingly adopted lithium golf cart batteries, the U.K. has been slower to make the change.

When consumers—like those in the U.K.—begin to understand the advantages lithium batteries provide compared to lead acid, we believe more people will demand their golf carts run on lithium power.

Below is our breakdown of golf cart batteries. We compare the pros and cons of lithium and lead-acid golf cart batteries, and discuss why we feel lithium-ion batteries are a superior choice.

 

Carrying Capacity

Equipping a lithium-ion battery into a golf cart enables the cart to significantly increase its weight-to-performance ratio. Lithium golf cart batteries are half the size of a traditional lead-acid battery, which shaves off two-thirds of the battery weight a golf cart would normally operate with. The lighter weight means the golf cart can reach higher speeds with less effort and carry more weight without feeling sluggish to the occupants.

The weight-to-performance ratio difference lets the lithium-powered cart carry an additional two average-sized adults and their equipment before reaching carrying capacity. Because lithium batteries maintain the same voltage outputs regardless of the battery’s charge, the cart continues to perform after its lead-acid counterpart has fallen behind the pack. In comparison, lead acid and Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries lose voltage output and performance after 70-75 percent of the rated battery capacity is used, which negatively affects carrying capacity and compounds the issue as the day wears on.

 

Cart Wear And Tear

Golf carts are expensive investments, and keeping them well-maintained helps protect the cart for years of use. One of the main factors adding to cart wear and tear is weight; a heavy cart is difficult to drive uphill or on challenging terrain, and the added weight can tear up grass and put extra strain on the brakes.

Swapping the battery from lead acid to lithium is the easiest way to reduce a golf cart’s weight and overall wear and tear. As a bonus, lithium batteries need virtually no maintenance, whereas lead-acid batteries regularly need to be checked and maintained. The lack of lead-acid chemical spills also keeps carts operating in tip-top shape.

 

Battery Charging Speed

Regardless if you’re using a lead-acid battery or a lithium-ion battery, any electric car or golf cart faces the same flaw: they have to be charged. Charging takes time, and unless you happen to have a second cart at your disposal, that time can put you out of the game for a while.

A good golf cart needs to maintain consistent power and speed on any course terrain. Lithium-ion batteries can manage this without a problem, but a lead-acid battery will slow the cart down as its voltage dips.  Plus after the charge has dissipated, it takes an average lead-acid battery roughly eight hours to recharge back to full. Whereas, lithium-ion golf cart batteries can be recharged up to 80 percent capacity in about an hour, and reach full charge in less than three hours.

Plus, partially-charged lead-acid batteries sustain sulfation damage, which results in significantly reduced life. On the other hand, lithium-ion batteries have no adverse reaction to being less than fully charged, so it’s okay to give the golf cart a pit-stop charge during lunch.

 

Golf Cart Battery Compatibility

Golf carts designed for lead-acid batteries can see a significant performance boost by swapping the lead-acid battery to a lithium-ion battery. However, this second wind can come at an instillation cost. Many lead-acid equipped golf carts need a retro-fit kit to operate with a lithium-ion battery, and if the cart manufacturer doesn’t have a kit, then the cart will need modifications to operate with a lithium battery.

The easiest way to tell if a cart is going to need modifications or a simple retro-fit kit is the battery voltage. Compare a lithium-ion battery and a lead-acid battery side-by-side, and if the battery voltage and amp-hour capacity are the same, then the battery can be plugged directly into the golf cart. However, lithium-ion battery’s smaller size and design often means the golf cart might needs alterations to its battery mount, charger and cable connecters.

There's A Newsletter For Everyone!
Enter your name & email address, and start getting the best of 3hack.net in your inbox!
ENTER YOUR NAME
ENTER YOUR E-MAIL