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Whether you’re hoping to make the trek around your favorite golf course a little less taxing, or you’re looking for an easy way to get around your suburb, finding and purchasing the best electric golf cart can be an excellent investment. These environmentally friendly automotives are compact, easy to use, and practical not just for golfers, but for users who want to get around a small community for daily life tasks, like quick trips to the grocery store.
These days, electric golf carts have taken over the market, accounting for up to 70% of golf cart purchases. Generally, most choices are right on the money – that is, they do what they promise and they perform as expected. Even then, zeroing in on just one specific model might be a challenge – especially if you don’t exactly know how to reconcile what you need with what’s available to you.
Need some help on finding out which electric golf cart is right for you? Find out here.
If you’ve been doing your research, you might have discovered that there’s a long-standing debate discussing whether electric carts are better than gas carts, and vice versa. The good news is that we have the answer to that question. The bad news is that it might not be what you think.
What’s better between the two? Simply put – it depends. It depends on what you need, what you want, and what drawbacks you’re more willing to live with.
That said, let’s get into the benefits of an electric cart:
Gas powered golf carts are notoriously popular for carbon emissions. Because they’re not necessarily designed to keep the environment in mind, these golf carts produce quite a significant amount of carbon gas that can definitely weigh down on any responsible buyer’s conscience.
For the environmentally conscious, electric golf carts are much less damaging. Operating on rechargeable batteries, there’s no need to worry about carbon emissions from the use of fuel.
If you decide to buy a gas powered golf cart, you’ll soon find that the price you’ll have to pay to keep it operational can be pretty steep. Ultimately, you’ll be at the mercy of gas prices. So as those numbers rise, so too will the amount you pay to keep your cart working.
Electric golf carts only need to be recharged, making them much less hefty on the pocket. It’s also worth mentioning that these carts generally have fewer moving parts, so they’re cheaper to repair as well.
Finally, because of the higher demand for electric gas carts on the market, spare parts are also easily accessible. This is what makes them generally more affordable compared to replacement parts for gas carts which tend to be harder to source.
Of course, electric golf carts can be pretty pricey without comparison, but if you consider the typical price range for gas carts, it’s easy to see which one’s more affordable.
Typically, you’ll find that electric golf carts tend to cost 10-15% less than their gas counterparts. Despite the discrepancy, they usually offer similar features and capabilities, so they’re not a far cry from gas powered performance.
Of course, the electric golf cart isn’t a flawless design. There are a few things about them that many might consider downsides. These are some of them:
An electric golf cart will only take you as far as a full charge can manage. So because they do use up quite a bit of energy during use, they might not be able to take you the same long distances that gas golf carts can. For very large golf courses, this can be a major drawback. After all, no one wants to end up having to tow their cart off in the middle of a course.
Fuelling up has never been easier. Just visit your local gas station or refill your tank with the gas can you have reserved in storage, and you’re all set. But charging an electric cart? That takes time. Unfortunately, it takes hours of charging to juice up a maxed out battery. So the interval between usages of an electric golf cart might take a little longer than most of us prefer.
Gas powered vehicles in general have more oomf to them. Basically, this just means that they can power through challenging terrain more efficiently than electric variations. That’s because gas powered engines produce more force, which is ideal if you’re carrying a full cart of people and equipment through muddy and winding golf course hills.
Although many electric golf carts have been designed to muscle it out through inclines, dips, and sharp turns over uneven paths, they tend to work a little harder to achieve these feats safely compared to gas powered carts.
There’s a world’s worth of golf cart accessories on the market. These help you personalize your cart so you can get greater enjoyment and convenience with each use. The availability of accessories per individual golf cart model depends largely on whether or not the manufacturer behind the cart offers a wide range of add-on items.
Choosing a cart from a brand that’s big on customizing can make these parts more readily available to you, so you don’t have to scramble just to find a fitting piece for your cart.
Electric golf carts can either be 36 volts or 48 volts. Obviously, those at 48 volts have more power to them, capable of running longer than the lower 36 volt carts. It’s also worth mentioning that despite its larger voltage, 48 volt carts charge much faster compared to their 36 counterparts.
Another thing you may want to consider is the fact that 48 volt electric golf carts can run up to 5mph faster. The trade-off? Not much. Just expect the carts with more power to cost slightly more at the get go.
A typical problem that most electric golf cart owners face is overcharging. Known to cause damage to a cart’s battery, leaving your golf cart hooked to its charger for too long can cost you untimely repairs and replacements. Unfortunately, not everyone has the luxury of time to sit around and wait for a golf cart to finish charging. So what’s the solution?
If you want to be able to leave your cart plugged in without having to worry about overcharging, look for one with an on board computer. These programs are built into the machine, and it works to regulate charging rate and power consumption. With an OBC in your cart, you could leave it plugged for virtually the whole year, and still be confident that your batteries won’t be damaged at the end of it.
The Club Car Onward 2 Passenger Golf Cart is a relatively affordable 2-seater golf cart that packs a punch when it comes to features and functionality. Right off the bat, the company lets you choose a few integrated customization options. So from the moment it arrives at your doorstep, it can meet your unique preferences.
What we like about the Club Car Onward 2 Passenger is that it’s practical. Without too many flashy and often unnecessary features, the design gives you the perfect balance of convenience and functionality. Plus the fact that it comes with a 2-seater capacity, you can be sure you won’t overwork its 48 volt battery with too many passengers or gear.
Designed to take you around town with safety and comfort in mind, the Club Car Villager 2 is a great investment for buyers who want an easy and convenient commute solution. This affordable two-seater golf cart boasts impressive safety and durability features – including a wrap-around bumper and the industry’s only corrosion resistant frame and roof.
If we’re talking prices, it’s definitely the cheapest on our list. Despite that, it does have quite some power to it, equipped with a 48 volt battery that works great both on and off the course.
Yamaha is known as one of the leading brands for golf carts currently available, but because their line-up of electric carts isn’t as extensive as their gas powered alternatives, there’s not a lot to choose from. Despite that, we found that one of their designs – the Drive 2 – is a suitable choice for buyers who want a reliable machine that can take a beating.
Firstly, the Drive 2 is powerful, coming with a 48 volt battery that can manage through dips, inclines, and challenging terrain without sacrificing the smoothness of your ride. Secondly, it’s a good looking cart. Coming in a variety of subtly sophisticated colorways, the design definitely looks like something straight out of a luxury magazine.
Designed for a variety of uses, the Cushman Hauler 800 is an all-around vehicle that can take you from the golf course, to the grocery store, and everywhere else in between. The cart was intended to be used for more than just carrying your clubs around a course, which is why it boasts an impressive 800 pound load capacity.
In terms of performance, it’s definitely not a slacker. The electric cart comes with a 48 volt battery, a 400 bed load capacity, and spacious seating enough to keep you and your companion comfortable all throughout the ride.
Talk about power. The Cushman Hauler Pro-X cart boasts an uncommon 72 volt AC electric drivetrain, which means it might be able to perform better than you’re usual gas powered golf cart. It also comes with reinforced all-terrain wheels and tires that easily plow through dirt, mud, and inclines with utmost ease and safety.
If we’re talking about performance, we’ll have you know that the Hauler Pro-X can sustain a max 900 pound load capacity, a 500 pound bed capacity, and a 1,200 pound tow capacity, which basically means it was meant for heavy work. Despite that, it’s pretty durable and robust, so it’s unlikely to require such major repairs even with daily use.
An electric golf cart can be much more than just a way to get around a large course – it can be a daily solution for all those taxing chores and errands that need to get done. There are a wide variety of electric golf carts though, so which one is your pick?
For us, there is no better choice than the Club Car Onward 2 Passenger Golf Cart. Often dubbed the best electric golf cart around, this practical, mid-range cart boasts all the features and essentials you might look for, making it the best value for money that we’ve found in the market of electric powered carts.