If you use your golf cart regularly, you’ve resigned to changing the lead-acid battery pack every 2/4 years for a cost exceeding €2,000. And already, after less than a year, the batteries no longer have the same capacity because lead-acid batteries lose capacity rapidly when used to power electric vehicles and if they are not maintained very well.
You have become accustomed to recharging them slowly because lead acid batteries recharge more slowly than lithium batteries.
You have become increasingly accustomed to accelerating as the batteries discharge because lead batteries do not release energy constantly but lose power as they discharge.
You have compromised so much with this old technology with many flaws because until a few years ago, there was no other one on the market, like lithium golf-car/tour shuttle batteries.
You may have heard of lithium batteries for golf cars but still know very little about them. The prices you see scare you, so you prefer to stay in your (un)comfort zone by continuing to use lead/AGM/Gel batteries.
But then, you confidently use lithium batteries with smartphones, PCs, work tools, and electric cars because these products are already born with lithium batteries.
For some applications, including golf cars, switching from lead-acid batteries to lithium golf car batteries can be done very easily. The lead batteries are removed, and the lithium ones are inserted. It is a direct and fast replacement. For other applications, such as campers, replacement is more complicated because it requires upsetting the electrical system and using different accessories to recharge the battery from the 220V mains, solar panels, and alternator.
Golf cars have a power regulator. For our lithium batteries, it should be set to 350A maximum. Above this threshold, the BMS (battery protection unit) temporarily isolates the battery to protect it from too much current. If more power is required, several batteries should be connected in parallel.
We have been selling lithium batteries with an 11-year warranty since 2016, and we try to guide the customer in the best possible way for each application.
We will show you that in the case of golf cars, the replacement is very simple and that, for various reasons (including the price), it is inevitable to switch from lead-acid batteries to lithium batteries.
By the end of this article, you will have cleared all doubts about why you should switch to lithium golf car batteries and rely on our batteries; we offer the best benefits in the world!
In recent years, golf carts have become increasingly popular as they are used more often outside the golf course. Let’s think of the golf buggies used in cities and tourist areas. In many cities with narrow streets, where cars cannot pass, the golf car (tourist shuttle) becomes the only means available to transport, for example, tourists with their luggage.
An eco-friendly, silent, and reliable means of transport, which is increasingly gaining ground not only in the business sector but also in the private sector. Precisely because it is an electric and eco-friendly vehicle, it will not stop its ascent and will become an increasingly used vehicle.
Since before the advent of lithium batteries for electric vehicles, golf cars have existed for many years.
They were already on the market with lead/Gel/AGM batteries; despite the considerable disadvantages, a golf car can still be powered with lead batteries because that is the best technology available. No other type of battery was available for such a good price.
But comparing the advantages, prices, and ease of replacement, there is no doubt that within a few years, almost all golf cars will use lithium batteries.
Let’s start by exposing the advantages one by one, which justify the higher cost of lithium batteries. Then move on to the price of lithium golf car batteries and how to choose the lithium golf car battery. Don’t be scared if they cost almost double the best lead/Gel/AGM batteries. But why did you have to spend almost double? Read on, and you will see for yourself that, on balance, lithium golf car batteries COST LESS than lead acid batteries!
Lead acid golf car batteries do not last longer than 2-4 years. It also depends a lot on the frequency of use and maintenance.
You cannot discharge lead/gel/AGM batteries beyond 30/50% of their declared capacity. Otherwise, they could be damaged.
That is, out of a 48V 225Ah battery pack (8 x 6V 225Ah batteries), you can only use 70-110Ah capacity out of 225Ah.
You can’t go below a certain threshold because lead batteries lose power as they discharge. Below 30/50% lead-acid batteries cannot deliver enough energy to support the power of the golf cart engine.
A 6V 225Ah deep cycle lead acid battery weighs 30 kg.
Eight batteries in series for a total of 48V 225Ah weigh 240 kg.
A lead battery must be recharged with a slow current and remain charged as much as possible; otherwise, it will be damaged. Recharging can lead to dangerous situations, especially with old or damaged batteries.
It depends on the type of lead acid battery, but they require more or less constant maintenance, or they get damaged and become dangerous.
It loses power rapidly as it runs out, forcing you to accelerate harder to maintain speed.
You cannot go below the 30-50% state of charge of lead batteries because they can no longer deliver the energy the engine power requires.
A lithium battery can easily last over 10-15 years.
This reason alone would be enough to justify almost double the initial investment.
The price of the necessary lithium batteries is almost double, and the life span is at least 3/4 times higher than lead batteries. After replacing them once, you will have already spent more than lithium batteries!
A lithium battery can be almost fully discharged before the internal BMS intervenes to stop the discharge.
One 100Ah 48V lithium battery (4 100Ah 12V batteries connected in series) can replace 48V 225Ah lead acid batteries!
ENDLESS ACCELERATIONS!
Lithium batteries maintain a constant voltage most of the time. This allows you to accelerate to the maximum until the capacity ends and without power loss.
A 100Ah 12V battery weighs 12 kg.
Four batteries in series for a total of 48V 100Ah weigh only 50 kg!
A lithium battery can be recharged with a fast current when needed. If you have a fast 12v battery charger, you can recharge it in 1 or 2 hours. It must NOT remain in charge as much as possible. Indeed we recommend recharging them only when necessary to make them last a long time. They do NOT have to stay at 100% often. In addition to being fast, the charging process is also safe.
Lithium batteries have an internal protection board called BMS which interrupts charging or discharging if any fundamental parameter is out of order. Disconnect the battery in case of a short circuit, high current/voltage, and high/low temperature.
There are various lithium battery technologies, LiFePO4 lithium iron phosphate type lithium batteries are currently the type of lithium battery most used to accumulate large quantities of energy (even in our homes) for its safety.
No maintenance to do.
They should NOT be kept charged.
Remember to use a battery switch to “switch off” the battery when not in use for days/weeks/months.
It must not be kept charged. It must be at 100% as little as possible. Otherwise, it will last less.
Self-discharge is less than 2% per month, so one of our lithium batteries at a state of charge of 50% can remain idle for over 2 years without recharging.
Almost no lithium battery salesperson tells you how to make them last longer. Many because they don’t know it, and others don’t want to say it because if the battery lasts a few years, the customer will buy another lithium battery anyway. He certainly won’t switch back to lead-acid batteries after having experienced the advantages first-hand for years.
Paradoxically, those who use them little and always keep them fully charged will last less than those who use them frequently.
We like satisfied long-term customers, and we always try to give this advice to the customer, do not recharge the battery when it is unnecessary.
Lithium battery voltage is high and constant most of the time, and they do not lose power as they discharge. As mentioned above, they can maintain the entire load until near complete discharge, guaranteeing infinite accelerations and lower fuel consumption to maintain speed.