It wasn’t all that long ago that you were zipping by in your new golf cart, as your neighbors jealous stares were apparent. As time has passed, you start to realize it doesn’t charge like it used to and is missing that zip. You now are cursed to cruise with he regular folks now, and you don’t like it. You want that speed back. You want that ability to zip passed the foursome you are playing with, and you want it now. What can you do? Most likely, if it’s an electric golf cart, it’s your batteries. Which leads to you think, how long should they have lasted? Well, that depends. 

Let’s Go Deeper…

First, we aren’t talking about those new fan-dangled Lithium batteries that are maintenance free. Those things are a whole different ball game. We are talking about your standard deep-cycle batteries that require the water to be filled and the terminals to be cleaned. These could be 6, 8, or 12 volt batteries connected in a a chain to create a 36 or 48 volt circuit. These have been the industry standard for quite some time so there is quite a bit of science behind their longevity. 

Just Tell Me How Long!

If you want to judge longevity, do not compare your car to a fleet car. These cars are used exponentially more than a private-owned golf cart. They will be cycled and maintained properly, but the overuse will drain the lifetime of the battery to 3-5 years. Some reports of private-owned golf carts have them lasting 6-10 years. This is a pretty large window of time, and we have seen the 5-7 year range be more accurate. Once again though, no golf cart is created equal. With a litany of accessories and options, you have to factor those in to the life of your golf cart’s batteries. 

What Ya Rolling With?

The length of life on your batteries will fluctuate with the amount of accessories you have that draw from the batteries. Most of the privately-owned golf carts have some sort of lighting system. These have a relatively small draw in comparison to the motor, but they will have an effect on the life of your batteries. If your golf cart was stock without lights, then it may trend on the 7-year length of the batteries. If you have lights, it may trend towards 6 years. What about the guy that rolls up to the clubhouse with a 10-inch blu-ray player and 7.1 surround sound? How long will his batteries last? Most likely he will be replacing batteries every three years depending on usage. The more accessories drawing on the battery, the less amount of time they will last. Accessorize wisely or know going into it that you will need batteries for your golf cart sooner. 

Do You Need Batteries?

Is your golf cart lacking that power or not holding a charge? It may be the batteries. Reach out to our Service Department and see if you can have your golf cart’s checked. A technician will come out to inspect and test your batteries and replace them if necessary. Sometimes corrosion build up or loose cables can cause inconsistent performance. Safety inspections should always be performed before charging the golf cart. A simple visual inspection should catch anything major but seasonal inspections from a technician is recommended.