Golf cart batteries in fleet carts last about 4-6 years, while private owners typically enjoy a battery pack lifespan of approximately 6 to 10 years. The longevity of golf cart batteries depends on the usage, golf cart accessories, and maintenance.
If you live near the golf course and drive to and from there a lot, your batteries won’t last as long. The more use the golf cart, the shorter the battery life will be. The stuff you have on the cart, like headlights, can also affect how long the batteries last.
Keeping golf cart batteries in good shape and making them last a long time depends on how well you take care of them. You need to regularly check the water levels and make sure the batteries are fully charged, plugging them in after each use.
You can determine the age of golf cart batteries by looking at the codes on them.
How Long Do 48-volt Golf Cart Batteries Last?
The lifespan of 48-volt golf cart batteries can vary based on factors such as battery type (e.g., lithium-ion or sealed lead acid), frequency of use, and maintenance. Lithium-ion batteries may last around 5-6 years with regular use, while sealed lead acid batteries could have a shorter lifespan of approximately 2-2.5 years. Whether your golf cart has 6V, 8V, or 12V batteries, proper care and maintenance are crucial for maximizing battery longevity.
How Long Do Lithium Golf Gart Batteries Last?
Lithium golf batteries last longer than lead-acid batteries primarily because they have a greater number of charge cycles. Lead-acid batteries can last for roughly 500 to 1,000 cycles, whereas lithium batteries can cycle between 2,000 and 5,000 times. As a result, they last longer. Lithium golf cart batteries are worth the cost for this reason, among others. However, these batteries are expensive. Learn more about the cost of golf cart batteries here.
Factors Impacting Golf Cart Battery Lifespan
As stated above, a number of factors influence the battery lifespan of golf carts. Here is an overview of these components:
1- Maintenance
Keeping the cart battery maintained can greatly extend its lifespan. Proper maintenance of batteries includes taking care of water regularly, keeping them fully charged, preventing corrosion build-up by cleaning them every now and then, and placing them in a place with proper ventilation.
2- Overcharging
Another common culprit of damaging battery health is overcharging. Most people commit this mistake— they keep charging the golf cart battery even when the battery is fully charged. This overcharging affects the internal parts of the battery and, if it becomes frequent, can reduce the lifespan of the golf cart battery.
Nowadays, most golf battery chargers are automatic and have a switch-off feature that activates when the battery is completely charged. In case your battery charger doesn’t have this feature, use a timer or any other option to prevent overcharging and extend the lifespan of your golf battery.
3- Brand Quality
Many companies are manufacturing cart batteries. While some batteries are expensive and high-end, others are low-end but cheap. A better brand will mean a better product and more money. So, if you buy a top-quality golf cart battery, chances are it will last longer.
For instance, Trojan batteries can last around 4-6 years with proper care. However, it’s important to note that different battery brands may have varying lifespans.
4- Features of the Golf Cart
Golf carts come with varying features depending on the model, brand, and cost. Some carts may have headlights, speakers, fans, horns, and other extras that can make golf carts street-legal. Specs like these can drain the battery and even damage it, making them less likely to last long.
5- Usage
Using golf carts more frequently will decrease battery longevity. If you own a golf cart, you probably don’t use it as often as golf cart fleets— usually, 2-3 rounds of golf a week. In contrast, golf cart fleets get that many rounds per day.
With more use, batteries are drained and charged more frequently. That is why the golf cart fleet batteries last no more than 4-6 years. On the other hand, the batteries of privately owned carts have a life expectancy of 6-10 years.
Also, private owners tend to be more proactive in charging their golf cart batteries regularly. By maintaining a consistent charging routine, the batteries remain at optimal charge levels, promoting longevity.
6- Storage
The storage condition can influence the battery’s health. If you are storing the golf cart battery for a long period, make sure it is kept in a cooler environment. Golf cart batteries are adversely affected by high temperatures. However, that doesn’t mean storing these batteries at freezing temperatures, either.
If golf cart batteries are not winterized according to standard guidelines, low temperatures can cause batteries to crack by freezing the electrolyte.
Loss of Electrolyte
Battery performance is greatly influenced by electrolytes. The presence of these molecules facilitates the flow of ions between the positive and negative electrodes, which is required for generating electricity. An electrolyte level drop can adversely affect a battery’s performance and lifespan.
The internal resistance of a battery increases when its electrolyte levels decrease. As battery resistance increases, it generates less electrical energy, which can lead to a decrease in capacity. Furthermore, low electrolyte levels can cause the battery to overheat, causing internal components to be damaged and shortening its lifespan.
How to Make Golf Batteries Last Longer
Here are some tips that can extend the battery’s life:
- Check the fluid regularly
- After using the cart, always charge the battery
- It is better to trickle charge your golf cart battery
Following these and more tips to maintain the golf cart batteries will maximize the life of your golf cart battery and ensure that it lasts as long as possible.
How to Determine the Age of Golf Cart Batteries
To determine the age of golf cart batteries, check the manufacturing codes imprinted on the battery’s negative post. The letter represents the month of manufacture, and the number represents the year. For example, a date code of “G6” would mean that the battery was manufactured in July 2016.
How Far Will A Golf Cart Go On Full Charge?
Electric golf carts have a travel range of approximately 30 to 50 miles with a full charge, whereas gas-powered carts can go an impressive 100 to 150 miles per tank. However, these ranges are subject to change based on factors like battery type, age, the weight it carries, the terrain it’s used on, and how it’s driven. These aspects collectively influence the overall mileage a golf cart can achieve.
Signs That Indicate You Need New Golf Cart Batteries
Monitoring battery health is an essential step in extending its lifespan. It is important to look for the signs of bad golf cart batteries like longer charging time, quick drainage, acid leakage, and slower speed of golf cart. Replace your golf cart batteries on time if you notice any of these signs.
How to Test Golf Cart Battery
If you start observing the signs mentioned in the above section, it is time to replace your golf cart battery. For further confirmation, you can test your golf cart battery using a voltmeter or hydrometer. A golf cart battery that is getting close to failure has a reading of fewer than 50 volts on a voltmeter and a hydrometer reading below 1200 specific gravity.
How to Revive Golf Cart Batteries
To revive golf cart batteries, check and fill with water, build voltage with a charger, clean terminals, charge for 8-10 hours, test voltage, and maintain regularly for a longer lifespan.
Conclusion
Having a golf cart battery that lasts a long time is important for its owner. You may end up spending more money on maintenance and replacement if you don’t get the right battery.
Many factors determine how long a golf cart battery lasts. These include usage, maintenance, overcharging, storage, and more. You can extend the golf cart battery’s life cycle by regularly checking the fluid, always charging it after use, and getting a trickle charger.
If you notice signs like slow charging and faster drainage, you should replace the golf cart battery. Lithium batteries are a good alternative to lead-acid batteries because they last longer.
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