How Long Do Golf Cart Batteries Last? – Explained

Nobody wants to see the battery of their golf cart dead, especially when they are just planning to have a nice golf session with friends. That’s why smart golfers always plan on changing their batteries ahead of time.

But to do that, you must know at first just how long golf cart batteries last exactly! To be concrete, there is no specific answer to this question. The lifespan of golf cart batteries depends on a variety of factors. But we at least can provide you with an estimate.

evolution golf cart

So How Long Do Golf Cart Batteries Last? Usually, the golf cart batteries last about 4-6 years if you maintain them properly. However, this may go up to 6-10 years for privately owned golf carts. While there are several factors that influence the battery’s life expectancy, you can increase the life expectancy through some steps.

Factors That Influence The Life Expectancy Of A Golf Cart Battery

We have provided a generalized number above. But the life of your golf cart battery depends on many other factors also. Depending on these factors, the number can increase or even decrease.

  1. Everything relies on the way you handle them.
  2. Consumption is the next major aspect after maintenance procedures that influence the lifetime of golf cart cells.
  3. The sort of accessories on any cart, which may boost the consumption from the power pack, is another important factor.
  4. The battery capacity is also significantly impacted if you reside on or close to a golf club inside a golf resort neighborhood and commute there and back.
  5. Whether you charge the battery in the correct manner or not.
  6. If you purchase batteries from a reputed brand with good reviews, they will surely last longer than cheap brands.

Calculating The Lifespan Of Your Golf Cart Battery

Wondering when you should start budgeting for your golf cart’s next battery pack? To do this, you will need to know first the lifespan of the battery. If you know the manufacturing date, then you can easily calculate just how many years are left till the battery starts giving a poor performance.

You can always know the manufacturing date of the battery by just looking at its negative side. To do that:

  1. Take out the battery.
  2. Look for two or three digits either on the negative side of the battery or anywhere else on its body. (The number is generally provided on its negative side)
  3. The two digits should be a character (first) and a number (second). Example :  B10 or C8.
  4. The character represents its manufacturing month and the number represents its manufacturing year. Some examples are provided below.
DigitsManufacturing Date
B10February 2010
C8March 2008
F14June 2014
H18August 2018

How Can You Increase the Lifespan Of Your Golf Cart’s Battery?

You can follow the below-mentioned tricks to make sure your golf cart’s battery lasts longer than others.

  1. Ensure not to keep charging the battery even when it is full, since doing such can harm it.
  2. Purchase a power adapter that automatically shuts off when the cell is recharged, or use a timeout to remind you to do so when using a conventional charger.
  3. After every use, remember to recharge the cells. If lithium batteries are entirely discharged, they don’t survive as long.
  4. Additionally, it’s critical to constantly monitor the level of water and wash the cells.
  5. Ensure your vehicle is always in a clean and cool area.
  6. Choose a golf cart pack that is reasonably priced and covered by a warranty. Long-term, it’s going to spare you time and money.
  7. Never have accessories for an extended period of time. To increase the longevity of the golf cart, avoid taking roads with severe slopes and drive carefully.
  8. Prior to storing your vehicle at the end of every season, it’s crucial to ensure that your cells are in good condition. The battery cell should be removed from any circuits that could drain it and kept completely charged.

When To Start Preparing For A New Golf Cart Battery?

The following are the top typical indications that the golf cart cells need to be changed. Each of these is solid clue, even though your specific cart may cause some additional troubles. Start getting ready to change your cells if the cart is beginning to exhibit any of these symptoms.

  1. The batteries may need replacing if you notice that they are suddenly requiring more and more time to recharge.
  2. The batteries may begin to degrade if the cart seems as if it has trouble moving.
  3. You might observe that the vehicle moves quite slowly up hills when there are more people on it.
  4. The cells may be beginning to fail if suddenly your vehicle won’t seem to switch on the fans or broadcast the stereo.
  5. It may be necessary to change the cells if you find some discrepancies.
  6. The battery is almost dead if it is leaking.
  7. A cell that is swelling is one that is about to fail.

How Much Does It Cost To Get A New Battery?

The dimensions of the golf cart along with the sort of cell you require truly determine the solution. It goes without saying that more power is needed to propel a bigger golf cart. For most circumstances, larger batteries are more expensive than lighter batteries. You must choose from a sealed and a flooding li-ion battery at the same moment.

TypePrice
Sealed Battery1750 USD
Flooding Battery900 to 1300 USD

FAQ

How much does it cost to replace batteries in a golf cart?

It can cost you from 900 to 1800 USD to change the batteries in a golf cart depending on the type of your golf cart and its battery.

How do I know when I need new golf cart batteries?

The battery will start showing some common symptoms like an increase in the charging time, difficulty moving after starting, great slowing down when there is more than one person in the vehicle, etc.

Should I leave my golf cart plugged in all the time?

No, you should keep it connected till the battery gets fully charged. Once the battery is fully charged, you have to unplug the charger.

How often do I need to replace my golf cart batteries?

You can use a battery straight for 6 to 10 years on average. You do not need to change it until the battery starts giving bad service.

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered almost all common queries from golfers about the lifespan of their golf cart batteries. Use the method provided above to learn about the manufacturing date of the battery and use the tricks to extend the lifespan. Happy Golfing!

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