Golf Cart Batteries: Your Complete Guide

If you are in the market to purchase an electric golf cart, then the simplest thing to do first and foremost is considering the age of your golf cart batteries. This is important due to many consumers being misled as to the age of the batteries in the cart they are purchasing. At times, a consumer will be told by a private party or dealer that the batteries are brand new when in fact they are 3 to 4 years old. Take this picture for example:

These batteries look brand new and are incredibly clean! This is typically a good sign, however if we look closer, then we can identify the actual date of the batteries. All batteries will have some sort of stamp either on the terminal, sticker, or battery case that will indicate the age of the batteries.

If we look at the stamp date on these, then we can determine them as from January of 2017. Now, how did we determine that? Well, our first letter indicates the month of the battery while our second digit determines the year of the battery. We see an A-7 in the above example. Since the letter “A” is the first letter in the alphabet, it gets pinpointed as being the first month of the year which in this case is January. For the number 7 in the stamp, it is pinpointed to be the year 2017. Let’s make a layout for our months to help us out:

A – January
B – February
C – March
D – April
E – May
F – June
G – July
H – August
I – September
J – October
K – November
L – December

With our layout for the letter according to our month, it is easier to determine the age of the batteries once we find the stamp. So, if our stamp date found on a set of batteries is F-7, then this would mean our batteries are from June of 2017. Some people ask if the batteries could be from June of 2007. It is possible, however it is highly improbable as batteries rarely last 10 years. If they did, then the likelihood of them working would be minimal and they would unlikely be clean.

Let’s take a close look at Voltage in a battery pack. For comparison, we like to take a look at cars since we are familiar with horsepower and miles per gallon (MPG). Therefore, voltage in a battery pack inside of an electric golf cart has to do with power. It does not have to do with fuel. Therefore, voltage in a battery pack within a golf cart will be comparable to the horsepower in a car. With this knowledge in place, we can determine a 72 volt system can be more powerful than a 48 volt system, and a 48 volt system can be more powerful than a 36 volt system. If you took notice, we said that it “can” be more powerful. The reason for this is due large in part to the controller inside the vehicle. A controller determines how much amperage is delivered from the batteries to the controller.

Voltage is great to know, however the true knowledge lies with the total amperage in a battery pack. To get a better idea of what amperage is like in a car, let us discuss the relationship between Horsepower and MPG. Horsepower within a car determines the acceleration and power of your car. If there is no fuel in the car though, then the vehicle is not going to go anywhere. That is the importance of MPG and also how big your gas tank is in your car. It determines how far you can travel before having to fill up the tank. Well, amperage in a golf cart is like the gas tank in your car. It will determine how far you can travel on a single charge in an electric golf cart. The more amperage in a battery pack, the further you can drive before having to charge.

Now we understand the differences between Amperage and Voltage and we can begin to break this down so we can locate the differences between various battery packs and systems. This can be visually determined by locating the cells per battery. A cell is distinguished by a battery cap that is used for watering the batteries. With batteries used in Golf Cars, each cell will represent 2 Volts. Let’s take a look at some common battery voltages and systems we see in the market.

A 6 volt golf cart battery can be identified by seeing batteries with 3 cell caps on top of the battery indicating 2 volts per cell. Generally speaking, a single 6 volt battery will have the highest amperage capacity and will allow for the greatest range in an 8-6 volt battery system.

An 8 volt golf cart battery can be identified by seeing batteries with 4 cell caps on top of the battery indicating 2 volts per cell. Generally speaking, a single 8 volt battery will have moderate amperage capacity. 6-8 volt battery packages are the most commonly seen battery packs seen in electric golf carts. For instance, Club Car golf cart batteries and Yamaha golf cart batteries are typically a 6-8 volt system.

A 12 volt battery can be identified by seeing batteries with 6 cell caps on top of the battery indicating 2 volts per cell. A single 12 volt golf cart battery will have the least amperage capacity and is commonly used in 72 volt battery systems which are not terribly common among golf carts. EZGO golf cart batteries are known to be use 4-12 volt battery systems in some of their golf cart models.

Battery Amperage calculated using Trojan Batteries at a 20 Amp-Hour Capacity Rate

Now, with all of this broken down, we want to make sure we iterate that top speed, acceleration, and other parameters will have an effect on travel distances. Therefore, we calculated mileage distances off a standard 19.9 MPH calculation and an acceleration rate of reaching 20 MPH in 10 seconds or more. With our chart, we can see how long golf cart batteries approximately last on one charge. Be aware, batteries can last long on a single charge, however it is not good for them. It is best to take the batteries down to a 50% discharge rate (half the total charge of the batteries). In quick summation, DO NOT drive your batteries to a state where it will not operate. The chart’s approximate travel distance is based on this rule of using up 50% of your batteries capacity.

The best battery pack to use in terms of power and range would be an 8-6 Volt Battery pack. However, if you have determined your Golf Cart use will be driven less than 5 miles per day, than you can have your pick of battery packs. Keep in mind though that a standard 18 holes of golf ranges between 5-7 miles per round depending on your handicap ;).

Electric golf cars come with two major forms of battery charger types. Some will have an off-board charger that resides in your garage to be plugged in when you return home. Others will have an on-board charger that is able to be plugged into any regular outlet with an extension cord (we recommend the extension cord to be at least a 16 gauge and the shorter the better). To charge a golf cart, PLUG IT IN AFTER EACH USE. It is damaging to your batteries to not charge them after every use. Even if you only drove it 1 mile. To begin charging, plug your golf cart in with your charger and let the charger run until it turns off. Chargers will turn off after a battery pack has been fully charged. If your charger has been on for 24 hours straight, then unplug it and contact your local golf cart dealer to see if you have a battery or charger issue.

For on board chargers, do not use a 25 foot cord or longer as resistance and heat build up will escalate with length. Golf cart fires are typically cause by improper charger use. For instance, a 100 foot long extension lying organized in a spool will essentially turn it into a resistance coil and lead to a sparked fire.

There are a wide range of golf cart battery chargers available out there, however the most important thing is to determine your voltage system and battery plug type when it comes to selecting the right charger if you don’t have one.

What you consider before you decide what to buy and where to buy it involves several important factors.

Voltage is key…
because the more voltage the greater the acceleration.

Capacity is important…
because that will dictate how much can be held in a single charge.

Choosing the right brand…
for your specific cart is critical and should probably be done with the help of a cart professional so the match-up is ideal. Check out our Top 3 Brands Here.

You’ll need to take a close look at the terminals and wires too…
because they can demand more care and/or cleaning to prevent them from heating up and causing a hazard down the line.

Finally, take a look at features and warranty.
Remember the Fram oil filter ad where the mechanic says, “you can pay me now or pay me later.” That is also good advice for a battery purchase. Going for cheap may not be the best move because you could be limiting performance and battery life. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

A good example of why you consider paying more for replacement is the case for lithium-ion batteries versus the more traditional and less expensive lead acid battery. A lead acid battery can weigh as much as 130 pounds and averages around 65 pounds. A lithium-ion battery averages 28 pounds. Less weight means your cart will be able to haul more weight at a greater speed. And, they are capable of holding a single full charge for a year instead of losing a charge slowly over time. Also, some lithium batteries carry a lifetime warranty and can deliver up to 5000 cycles versus the typical 100-500 cycles for a lead acid battery.

Even with a 500-cycle lead acid battery cart, that means replacing the power source 10 times more than the lithium-ion model. Granted, lithium-ion batteries are expensive, but they are also maintenance-free, so you can spend more time playing instead of filling water and cleaning terminals on your lead acid batteries. When it comes to cart batteries you truly do get what you pay for. Be aware though, lithium batteries need to be charged properly. Not every charger is built to charge lithium batteries as well.

We have all been there when we are trying to determine how much do the batteries in you golf cart can cost. Pricing varies from pack to pack. The general consensus for golf cart battery replacement ranges from $600 on the low end to $1600 on the high end. If you are buying batteries in the lower end of the price range, then they are most likely cheap golf cart batteries that will not last as long (you really do get what you pay for when it comes to batteries). Some packs cost as much as $2500 when you start dealing with 72 Volt systems and sealed for lithium batteries. But, for the typical lead acid battery pack, $900 to $1500 is about the norm. This price range is assuming you are working with a local golf cart dealer.

Of the 48 Volt systems, the 4-12 Volt system is typically the least expensive (not always) since only 4-12 Volt deep cycle batteries are required. However the 4-12 Volt system has the least range. The more lead and the heavier the battery pack as a whole typically leads to a more expensive but higher quality battery pack. And a higher quality battery pack will have a longer life for your golf cart and generally better performance in terms of range.

Batteries can be cheaper if you install them yourselves, however we recommend you prevent long term back pain from picking up heavy batteries and have your local professional golf cart dealer provide the service. Batteries being replaced that were not maintained properly will require acid cleanup and potentially a replacement of cables and connectors in the battery bay. Now, these extra items are not typically included in a normal battery install. However, general cleaning typically is. When the batteries are all installed, the dealer will ensure the batteries properly charge and perform a safety check, so that you can drive off without any worries. While you’re getting the batteries replaced though, have your dealer perform a preventative maintenance check as well. You might as well get it all done at once and keep yourself safe while driving on the road.

Simply put, Golf Cart Batteries are expensive because you aren’t visiting the gas station every week. When you purchase them, you are essentially pre-paying for fuel. Yes, you still have to charge the vehicle, however the electricity cost usually breaks down to pennies per mile. In some studies, it was shown a golf cart costs less than $.02 per mile to operate in terms of electricity cost. Buying higher quality batteries versus cheaper ones will be better in the long run and will actually cost you less since you are replacing them less frequently.

Now that you’ve evaluated all the facts, you only need to decide where to buy when your old batteries begin heading for the elephant’s graveyard.

Let’s look at the internet first.

The internet is basically a long-distance retailer and everything you buy there must be shipped. Shipping is more difficult, because six of them can weigh a lot, meaning the shipping charge will add much money to the initial price. In comparison, lithium-ion batteries are lighter and will cost less to ship.

There is also the fact that a battery containing acid can be considered as having a hazardous material. Depending on the supplier and how they will ship, you could end up with an unpleasant and possibly dangerous surprise.

Most golf courses with electric cart fleets use lead acid batteries because they get a great price by buying in quantity, they have cart barn employees to perform all the maintenance and with newer carts they have state-of-the-art chargers that will keep a trickle charge going when the carts are not being used and prevent any overcharging.

All of that said, we recommend you shop for replacement batteries locally instead of buying from a website. There are several benefits that come with this recommendation. First and foremost, you can talk directly with a professional and get your questions answered about the right type and brand battery for your specific cart and pattern of use. The same expert can work the numbers to show you whether you should invest in a lithium-ion product swap. Additionally, you will have no concern about shipping and can probably arrange both delivery and installation, so you are not schlepping very heavy batteries that could present a hazard if mishandled. Lastly, buying locally allows you to see the batteries upfront and ensure they are brand new by checking the year and month they were manufactured.

Also important is the fact that you will have a local contact you can meet face-to-face should any warranty issue or problem occur that requires remediation or even exchange. If you end up shipping the heavy beasts back and forth to a distant internet supplier, those costs will quickly add to your overall investment.

So, bite the bullet (or the battery if you will – but not literally) and do the work to make the best decision. You can always turn to your local dealer or your PGA Pro for a recommendation of where to start and how to help you make a decision. Do this and you will have less to worry about other than why you can’t seem to hit your 3 wood three hundred yards.