Golf Cart
Battery Buying Guide
How to Choose a Golf Cart Battery
1. Determine if Your Golf Cart is Gas or Electric
- Gas will require one starting battery like a car.
- Electric will usually require numerous batteries depending on overall voltage (36V or 48V).
2. Validate the Combined Voltage of Your Golf Cart Make/Model (Typically 36 or 48)
- Lead acid batteries available in 6, 8 or 12 volts.
- The average golf cart requires four to six batteries, sometimes 8.
- Check owner’s manual if you do not know voltage. Or, calculate by counting the number of cells or caps on one of your current batteries (3, 4 or 6).
- Multiply that number by 2 to determine your battery voltage. Then, multiply that by the number of batteries found in your cart to determine the voltage.
3. Determine the Desired Amperage Based on Use and Distance Between Charges.
- The higher a battery’s amperage, the longer your battery will last on the course.
4. Validate Dimensions
- Most golf cars take a standard sized GC2 group size, but some may have spacers or need a taller/unique footprint.
Understanding Amps & Voltage
Amps. Determines how far you can go on a single charge.
Voltage. Represents how much power your car will be delivered. The more voltage, the more you can carry and the faster you can accelerate. A higher voltage can come at a cost by burning through amps and draining the batteries quicker.
Flooded (Wet)
- More affordable.
- Require regular maintenance in order to keep them functioning properly.
- Have lead plates inside them along with an electrolyte liquid made of a mixture of water and sulfuric acid - the electrolyte solution inside them needs regular topping off with distilled water.
- Numerous capacities/RC (for run times).
AGM
- 100% sealed and completely spill-proof.
- Maintenance free - No need to add distilled water to the batteries.
- Higher reserve capacity.
- Last longer through more recharges (Cycles).
- Charges faster and holds a charge better than flooded.
- Perform better extreme temperatures.
Lithium-Ion
- Easy installation with no maintenance.
- Up to 25% more range with at least 2 batteries in parallel.
- Full power throughout discharge.
- Lighter weight than standard lead-acid alternatives.
- 4-6x faster charge time.
- Lower cost over product lifetime.
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