BATTERIES

What Are the Advantages of Lithium Batteries for Golf Carts?

  • Constant power – Unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries operate at full power throughout discharge, even when they are at less than 5%. Low battery won’t result in sluggish performance.
  • Lightweight – Lithium batteries are 50-60% lighter than their lead-acid equivalents. This makes them significantly easier to install. Plus, it increases your golf cart’s weight-to-performance ratio, enabling you to reach higher speeds with less effort. Even the best golf carts could benefit from being a little lighter.

  • Weight

  • Most lithium batteries weigh between 10 and 20 kg – a fraction of the weight of your average lead-acid battery. By using a lithium battery, your weight-to-performance ratio will be greatly increased. However, you should be aware that higher-capacity lithium batteries are slightly heavier than standard.

  • Cycle lifespan

  • The charge cycle lifespan is basically the number of times lithium ion golf cart batteries can be charged before they pack it in. When looking for a lithium battery, you should expect a lifespan of no less than 1500 cycles. If you were to play one round of golf every day, these batteries should last for 4-5 years. Some lithium batteries have a cycle lifespan of up to 8000 cycles and can last as long as 10 years.
  • Fast charging – Lithium batteries can be fully charged within 1-3 hours. This is a vast improvement over lead-acid batteries, which can take over 8 hours to fully charge.
  • Maintenance-free – No water needed, and no cleaning of acid residue required. Just charge them up, and they’re ready to go.
  • Safety – Most lithium batteries utilize Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4), a chemistry that is inherently safe. In addition, Battery Management Systems (BMS) have been developed in order to regulate heat, eliminating the risk of overcharging and overheating.
  • Long-life – Lithium batteries have up to a 10x longer life cycle than lead-acid batteries.
  • Long shelf life – Lithium batteries have a very low rate of self-discharge, meaning they maintain a state of charge for longer when not being used.
  • Eco-friendly – Due to their lower charge times, and the fact that they contain less hazardous materials, lithium batteries are far better for the environment than lead-acid batteries. They’re the best golf cart batteries for the environment by far.

Things to Consider When Buying a Lithium Battery for Your Golf Cart

Before you confirm a purchase, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the battery that’s right for you by taking the following into consideration.

Battery capacity

Measured in Ah (ampere-hours), a battery’s capacity is the amount of power it can discharge in a single-use. In other words, it’s how long the battery will last before it needs recharging. Pretty much all lithium batteries will easily cover you for 18 holes of golf. Some batteries, with an AH of around 100, can run for as long as 36 holes.

Voltage

Voltage is basically the amount of electrical power that your lithium battery holds. 48v is a fairly standard amount of voltage for lithium golf cart batteries.

Dimensions

It’s essential to check the dimensions of your golf cart battery holder before you purchase a new battery. If you choose a battery that is larger than your holder, you will have a lot of difficulty keeping it secure. If you cross-reference the dimensions of your cart holder against the size of the battery, you can ensure your new lithium battery will be a good fit.

Most lithium batteries are roughly (W)300mm x (L)250mm x (H)200mm. Batteries with larger capacity tend to be slightly bigger. However, generally speaking, lithium batteries are nice and compact; they’re a good fit for most modern golf carts.

Swapping from Lead to Lithium

Many older carts run on lead batteries which means they may require a conversion kit to be installed into the cart to alter the voltage and accept a new battery. Lithium batteries are also usually different sizes to lead batteries so you should take that into account when converting. This means you may also have to buy battery spacers. It’s likely best to use a 48v lithium battery as a drop-in solution if you’re upgrading to lithium, but these are generally more expensive than lower-voltage batteries.

Charging Lithium Batteries

Lithium batteries are often much safer than lead batteries to charge. They usually have surge protection, smart chargers, and overcharge protection to make it safe for your to leave the charger on overnight. Many models don’t even need to be removed from the cart to charge. However, you should check if the exact battery you plan to buy has these features

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