If you are looking for a golf cart, the first thing to consider is which type is best for you.
The question of buying a gas or electric golf cart is up to you in the end. If you don’t take a look at the playing field first, who can say which is the best option for you?
While both models will help you cross the green, one may suit your style or budget more than the other, so you’ll need to consider the pros and cons of each type to make a fully informed buying decision.
If you’re new and confused in the world of golf carts, consider this comprehensive guide to gas versus electric golf carts.
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Gas vs Electric Golf Carts
One of the first decisions you must make before purchasing a golf cart is whether you want a gasoline-powered golf cart or an electric one. Both types of golf carts have advantages and disadvantages.
Gasoline golf carts are powered by a traditional combustion engine. Most are four-stroke engines, but there are some two-stroke engines.
Drivers fuel them with regular car gasoline, which can be added through a traditional gas station fuel pump or by pouring gasoline from a can.
Large 38 or 48-volt rechargeable battery cells power electric golf carts. Golf cart batteries should be changed regularly to ensure that the carts can continue to function.
When the battery power is depleted, the car’s speed decreases. Both types of cars have advantages and disadvantages, and which car a particular person prefers depends largely on personal preference and intended use. Most car owners drive battery-powered cars.
We will compare gas-powered golf carts and electric golf carts based on five factors: purchase cost, operating and maintenance cost, speed, range, and comfort.
How Do Golf Carts Work?
Gasoline golf carts are powered by combustion engines. These engines are typically four-stroke, but older models may use two-stroke instead. They run on regular gasoline like any car or truck.
Electric golf carts are battery-powered. Most of them are 36 volts or 48 volts. Batteries must be recharged regularly to keep the car running.
Price: Electric vs Gas Golf Carts
It is difficult to give a price range for golf carts, as there are many factors that influence their cost, but very generally speaking, used gasoline carts are more expensive than electric ones.
Good used gas cars are also harder to find, as there are fewer of them returning to exchanges.
On the other hand, electric cars can be cheaper depending on the state of the batteries. Many of our competitors will sell used cars with used batteries.
Think carefully about your budget before deciding on your chosen golf cart. The decision you make today could have a big impact on your expenses tomorrow.
Maintenance and Operational Cost
All golf carts require regular maintenance to run smoothly, but the type and duration of this maintenance will vary depending on the model, make, size, and power source of your cart.
Gasoline golf carts need things like oil changes and replacement parts. You may need to repair anything from a spark plug to a starter strap, and if you can’t do it yourself, you’ll be on the hook for labor and material costs.
Gasoline cars also require a constant flow of fuel, and that will cost you every time you are at the pump.
Electric golf carts require charging. Golf carts must be charged after each use. If the cart is not used regularly, it should be changed every few weeks. Normally we do not like to spend more than a month without a good charge of the batteries. Fully electric cars come with a charger.
However, the batteries will need to be replaced at some point. Again, this varies based on use and maintenance. Most of our customers get an average of 4-5 years from a set of batteries before they need to be replaced.
Finally, the most important thing for the maintenance of an electric car is to check the water in the batteries. It is a good habit to check the water level in the batteries once a month.
Do this year if possible! Doing this will significantly increase battery life!
Speed and Performance
Surprisingly, electric carts actually have a higher top speed than gasoline cars.
An electric car can run 20-24 mph right out of the box, with performance
Upgrades available to bring that speed up to 30 mph!
A gas car can run up to 18-20 mph and there aren’t many speed improvements you can make on one. In addition, electric cars will also reach top speed faster.
As for power, the newer 48v electric carts have more torque than their gas counterparts, but you may want to consider gas if you are going to use the cart as a workhorse and are continually putting it under load. In this case, a gasoline car will last longer.
Electric golf carts are clearly the top speed winners when comparing electric golf carts and gasoline golf carts.
Range
If the range is a big priority for you, you should go for a gasoline golf cart.
With this range, you can easily go through a day to explore a resort or island. And if there are gas stations in the area, there should be no problem, just like normal gas carts.
The range of most electric golf carts is between 30 and 45 miles. This range is excellent for short trips to do, for example, shopping, visiting a restaurant, or visiting a nearby beach.
But keep in mind that to maximize the range of electric golf carts you have to choose the 48v version and the 36v version.
Noise, Ride, and Vibration
Electric golf carts accelerate quickly and quietly. They make very little noise on the green, making them an attractive option for golfers who don’t like to advertise their presence on every hole.
Gasoline golf carts are relatively noisy. Newer models are better in this regard than older ones, but even a high-tech gas vehicle can only muffle some of the natural noise from the combustion engine.
If the noise level is a major concern for you, you will probably want to avoid a gas-powered golf cart.
Electric cars win this competition hands down. Although gas powered golf carts are much quieter than side by side, they make noise while driving. Gasoline cars also have a gentle vibration, and in summer you may feel some heat under the seat.
Electric cars, on the other hand, are virtually silent, vibration-free, run cooler, have no exhaust smell, and you don’t have to worry about having a choke button.
Pollution from Golf Carts
Gas golf carts run on traditional fuel and produce carbon monoxide emissions. They have a “gas smell”, especially in a confined area like a garage or shed.
Electric golf carts, on the other hand, do not produce fumes or emissions. They work with rechargeable batteries that do not harm the surrounding environment.
They are the “green” option for buyers concerned about their carbon footprint. When it comes to being environmentally friendly, electric golf carts have a distinct advantage over gas-powered ones.
Comfort
If you prefer to drive quietly, you should go for electric golf carts.
Especially if your gas-powered golf cart is getting old and you don’t maintain it well, the noise can get worse over time. With an electric golf cart, you will never find yourself yelling at your passengers.
But if you had to choose the quietest gas-powered golf cart, the Yamaha is your best bet over the EZGO and Club Car gas-powered golf carts.
In addition to noise, gasoline golf carts also have the downside of fumes, which smell and are bad for the environment. And like noise, it could get worse over time if the golf cart ages.
Or when you are refueling your golf cart with a jerrycan and spilling it on the golf cart. Compared to refueling your golf cart on gasoline, connecting an electric golf cart to a charging cable are a cleaner and easier task.
Like plugging your smartphone into a power outlet, especially now that almost every new electric golf cart has an on-board charger. Carrying heavy and vulnerable chargers is a thing of the past.
The only downside to charging your electric golf cart is that it takes 8-12 hours to charge near-empty batteries and refueling your golf cart could take 5 minutes if you have a canister that can be filled with gasoline.
Gas Powered Golf Carts
Gas-powered golf carts require much less routine maintenance than electric carts, which is probably their biggest draw. Aside from scheduling an annual service to change your oil, replace filters, and check everything, it takes very little to keep your cart in tip-top shape.
Another benefit of gas-powered golf carts is range. While most electric cars are limited to two rounds of golf, a tank of gas will last you more than 200 miles. Being able to refuel wherever you want is also a major benefit, an electric car will require access to energy.
On the other hand, while fueling a golf cart on gasoline is quick and easy, vehicles that run on gasoline are generally more damaging to the environment.
The smell and exhaust from gas-powered golf carts can linger on the golf course, and if your cart is not properly maintained, it could spill fluids on the grass. Carbon monoxide emissions from gasoline vehicles can also pose a threat to your health when you are in a confined space, such as parking in a small garage or shed.
Gasoline-powered golf carts are also much louder than electric ones, which can disturb other golfers on an otherwise quiet course.
Benefits of Gasoline Powered Golf Carts
Some golf cart owners prefer gasoline-powered golf carts because they run at faster speeds, can pull heavier loads, and are easy to refill.
More speed means moving from one place to another in less time. In addition, faster cars are sometimes allowed to drive on roads where slow-moving electric cars cannot maintain minimum speeds.
Given their benefits, gasoline cars are often popular with those who prefer a custom-built cart. These types of cars have more comforts and options, which increases the price of the cars.
Limitations of Gas Powered Carts
With gasoline cars, a driver only needs to pour a gallon of fuel into a car to resume operation, but the fuel also produces more pollution.
Carbon monoxide emissions pose a health threat when cars are operated inside confined spaces such as a garage.
Also, gas cars make more noise and require regular maintenance in the form of oil changes.
Electric Golf Carts
If you want a greener option for your golf cart, one that is zero emissions, you will want to go with an electric golf cart.
These cars will not impact the course as much as gasoline-powered golf carts because they will not produce noxious odors or spill gasoline anywhere.
Electric cars cost less both to buy and to maintain, and recharging the battery is much less expensive than buying gasoline. Used electric golf carts are generally cheaper than gasoline carts, and there are more available on the market.
However, electric cars can be more difficult to master when it comes to driving. You may also not be able to tell when your electric cart is about to run out of power, and towing or pushing your cart off the track can be a huge pain if you misjudge the time.
It takes a long time to recharge the batteries, so you won’t have your cart available at all times.
Benefits of an Electric Golf Cart
Electric golf carts are emission-free. Therefore, they are more environmentally friendly.
They also produce less noise than gas cars. Most electric golf carts cost slightly less to purchase and are used less often for custom-made carts.
Used electric cars are generally less expensive to buy than their gasoline counterparts and are more readily available.
Additionally, electric golf carts cost less to maintain and operate because recharging them is less expensive than buying gasoline for a gas cart and because they don’t require as much ongoing maintenance.
Limitations of Battery-Powered Carts
Electric golf carts pose problems because it can be more difficult to estimate when they will run out of power and they are more difficult to recharge.
If a cart runs out of battery on the golf course or elsewhere away from a charging unit, drivers can be stranded; Also, electric cars have batteries that are not easily removed for charging.
Electric Golf Carts
If you want a greener option for your golf cart, one that is zero emissions, you will want to go with an electric golf cart.
These cars will not impact the course as much as gasoline-powered golf carts because they will not produce noxious odors or spill gasoline anywhere.
Electric cars cost less both to buy and to maintain, and recharging the battery is much less expensive than buying gasoline. Used electric golf carts are generally cheaper than gasoline carts, and there are more available on the market.
However, electric cars can be more difficult to master when it comes to driving. You may also not be able to tell when your electric cart is about to run out of power, and towing or pushing your cart off the track can be a huge pain if you misjudge the time.
It takes a long time to recharge the batteries, so you won’t have your cart available at all times.
Benefits of an Electric Golf Cart
Electric golf carts are emission-free. Therefore, they are more environmentally friendly.
They also produce less noise than gas cars. Most electric golf carts cost slightly less to purchase and are used less often for custom-made carts.
Used electric cars are generally less expensive to buy than their gasoline counterparts and are more readily available.
Additionally, electric golf carts cost less to maintain and operate because recharging them is less expensive than buying gasoline for a gas cart and because they don’t require as much ongoing maintenance.
Limitations of Battery-Powered Carts
Electric golf carts pose problems because it can be more difficult to estimate when they will run out of power and they are more difficult to recharge.
If a cart runs out of battery on the golf course or elsewhere away from a charging unit, drivers can be stranded; Also, electric cars have batteries that are not easily removed for charging.
Finding the Right Golf Cart for You
Of course, each situation has a different set of circumstances. These are the questions to ask yourself:
- What is my budget?
- How will I use my cart?
- Where will I use my cart?
Gasoline golf carts are strong and stable operators. Electric golf carts are more comfortable to use and better for the environment.
There is no right or wrong answer when deciding which of these sounds more attractive to you; it all depends on your personal needs and preferences.
No matter what you’re looking for in a golf cart, just make sure you give it a lot of thought before pulling out your credit card!
Bottom Line
If you’ve figured out which end of the electric vs gas golf cart debate you fall into, then it’s time to find a serious car for your needs.
Both gas and electric cars have their purposes. If you want to drive long distances or use a cart where you won’t have access to electricity, a gas cart may be a better option. Electric cars are excellent for their low cost, their quiet, fast handling, and less maintenance.
For most people, the ELECTRIC CART is the most affordable, the most reliable, and the most convenient for most uses. But if you have a large property or need a cargo car or don’t have a reliable source of power to charge, gas may be your answer.
You can claim that electric golf carts are a better option than gasoline golf carts, but different people have different priorities. And that is why you must make your decision based on your priorities.
