Electric Golf carts are no longer limited to use on the golf course. If you own acreage, live in a neighborhood with limited car traffic, or need to move your business property quickly, a golf cart works nicely.

The key to having an electric golf cart that’s ready to go at all times is the unit’s battery system. Without fully charged batteries, the golf cart becomes unreliable.
A golf cart battery operates differently from the battery in your vehicle, and it requires a different kind of maintenance. Whereas a car battery charges as you are driving (using the alternator), the golf cart battery drains while you use it. Think of the golf cart battery like a tank of gasoline. You have to refill the golf cart battery with power after using it.
That’s where golf cart battery chargers enter the picture. They deliver a charge to the cart’s battery system while it’s sitting idle, allowing you to have a full charge the next time you want to drive the cart. If you own an electric golf cart, having the right charger plays a key role in your enjoyment of it.

Key Considerations

When shopping for your golf cart charger, make sure you purchase one that matches your cart’s battery system. An electric golf cart battery will either be a 36V or a 48V system, and every golf cart battery charger is either a 36V or 48V charger. Match the two, and you’ll have the compatibility you need. Here are a few other options to consider when shopping for battery chargers.

Display: Certain golf cart charger models have an LCD display. This can show the number of amps being delivered as well as the amount of time remaining until a full charge is achieved.
Indicator lights: A charger may have a series of lights that alert you to the current process the charger is using. These lights can also alert you to an error.
Long cords: Selecting a charger with long cords makes it more convenient. Chargers have a cord that plugs into a wall outlet and a second cord that connects to the golf cart battery. Having two long cords is a nice feature; you can charge the cart battery farther from the wall outlet if needed.
Amps: A charger that can deliver a small number of amps (five to eight) requires several hours to deliver a full charge. For faster charge within two to three hours, look for a charger with 12 to 18 amps.

Features

The golf cart battery charger you choose needs a plug head that matches the battery in your cart. You plug the charger into a wall outlet to obtain power, but the plug head delivers that power to the battery system. Here are some of the possibilities for plug heads.

Two-prong, regular/D-shaped: For chargers compatible with quite a few E-Z-GO cart models, you’ll find a primarily rectangular box (almost shaped like a capital D) with two prongs inside it.
Two-prong, round: Another two-prong plug head on certain golf cart battery chargers will fit Yamaha models. It has two round housings with prongs inside them.
Two-prong, crows foot: The crows foot charger plug head is common among a few different cart models, including Club Car, Par Car, Fair play, and Yamaha. This plug head looks a bit like a standard electrical plug with two thin rectangular prongs. These are set at 45-degree angles to the face of the plug head; they are not aligned vertically as they would be for a wall outlet.
Three-prong, triangular: Another type of E-Z-GO charger has a triangular plug head. It’s divided into three compartments, each of which has a prong inside.
Three-prong, round: Certain Club Car battery systems have a round plug head. Three small prongs are inside the round housing.

A few other types of plug heads are available too, but these are for older systems. Before purchasing a charger, make sure it matches the plug for your golf cart battery system.

Some golf cart battery chargers are made to be compatible with multiple types of battery systems. These will ship with a few different plug heads for connecting the charger to the battery.

Golf Cart Battery Charger Prices

When considering the cost of golf cart battery chargers, you won’t find a significant difference between 18V and 36V chargers. Instead, the number of amps the charger can deliver plays a major role in the price point.

The least-expensive chargers cost from $75 to $175. These are slow performers that only have five or six amps. If you easily become frustrated while waiting for a battery to charge, you will be disappointed in these models. However, the low price fits nicely into some budgets.

Higher-performing chargers commonly cost $175 to $400. These units often deliver 12 to 18 amps, allowing for faster charging sessions. If you’ve got the budget for it and don’t like waiting around for a slow battery charger to get your cart moving, this could be the right price range for you.

Tips

• Golf cart battery chargers usually have an automatic shutoff feature. When charging your battery, the charger may shut itself off after achieving a full charge. This is a nice safety measure. It prevents the battery from dangerously overcharging. It also conserves power.
• Chargers will become warm, but they shouldn’t overheat. As the charger delivers power to the golf cart battery, it will warm up. If it becomes hot to the touch, however, you could have a problem. Take some time to clean the battery terminals on the golf cart. IF you’re plugging the charger into an extension cord, use a heavy-duty extension cord to reduce the amount of heat the charger generates.
• Chargers may create a buzzing noise or emit a slight odor. As the golf cart battery charger operates, you may hear a low hum or buzz. The charger may create a slight odor of heated plastic or metal. These are normal operating conditions.
• Use the charger after each golf cart trip. It’s always smart to have a full charge in the battery of your golf cart. Plan to use your golf cart battery charger after each trip you take in the cart.
• Testing the charger requires a voltmeter. If you think the charger may not be working properly, use a voltmeter. Connect it to the clamps on the charger, and measure the amps it’s delivering. If it is not registering any amps on the voltmeter, the charger most likely needs replacing.