Lithium is Here for Golf Carts. Longer life with new battery.
Written by Sarah Colburn, Staff Writer at Star Publications Country Acres and Tiffany Klaphake, Photographer
Minnesota golf enthusiasts looking for a better way to start their spring golf season may consider taking the winter months to give their golf cart a boost under the hood — or seat, as it may be.
Lithium batteries are now available for golf carts, and service technicians have said they’re maintenance-free and make carts run longer. “Lithium is actually starting to become more affordable,” said Ryan Wolbeck, service coordinator for Winters Recreation in Sauk Centre. “If it’s a good brand and a good price point, it’s going to attract people.”
Most often, he said, customers are replacing their traditional batteries with lithium counterparts once their initial battery needs to be replaced.
“Once the batteries get weak … they’re doing it as a battery swap,” Wolbeck said.
Warranties are also driving the market for lithium. Lithium batteries typically come with a warranty that’s more than double that of traditional batteries. A traditional lead acid battery typically lasts four to five years if it’s taken care of, or as little as two years if neglected. Lithium batteries, he said, can last seven to eight years, or as much as 10. Lithium batteries are also lighter than traditional batteries meaning there’s less weight for the cart to haul around.
Lithium conversion kits are available from various brands including ECO Lithium and Evolution Lithium. Conversion kits fit most models of Yamaha, Club Car and E-Z-GO carts.
Kits come with a lithium battery, battery charger, brackets and a battery meter. The kits can be picked up for those who want to do the installation themselves. Otherwise, professional installation runs a couple hundred dollars. The kits themselves vary in price, depending on mile range which runs from 25 miles to 75 miles. The kits range from roughly $2,500 to $5,000.
Emily Primus, with Winters Recreation support, said swapping flooded acid batteries for lithium is a more affordable option than purchasing a new cart. She said new carts can run on average around $9,000 to $12,000.
Wolbeck said customers are finding the price is worth getting rid of the traditional battery hassle. Traditional batteries must be maintained regularly. He said owners must add distilled water to the batteries as the fluids in them evaporate over time. How often water needs to be added depends on cart usage, but if the cart is used daily, he recommends checking it once a week. For more irregular usage, he said the battery should be checked and maintained at least once a month.
Maintaining the water/acid level, he said, can be tricky and, if overfilled, can make an acid mess and eventually lead to corrosion of the tray underneath the battery.
A traditional lead acid battery typically lasts four to five years if it is taken care of, or as little as two years if neglected. Lithium batteries, he said, can last seven to eight years, or as much as 10. Lithium batteries are also lighter than traditional batteries, meaning there’s less weight for the cart to haul around. Additionally, lithium batteries don’t have the same ventilation requirements as traditional batteries. Wolbeck said the charging of lead acid batteries can cause a rotten egg-like smell that requires ventilation of the fumes. Most golf clubs have open-air ventilated charging barns to keep the air moving through the space.
Lithium batteries aren’t without their own risks, however. They have been known to cause fires and generally shouldn’t be charged overnight and should be charged away from flammables and structures. The batteries shouldn’t be charged when temperatures are less than 32 degrees or higher than 105 degrees.
Consumers, Wolbeck said, also need to educate themselves before choosing a battery brand to ensure safety and performance. “Batteries from well-known companies may cost a little bit more,” he said.
Customers who are ready to make the swap should plan ahead. Professional installation can run a few weeks out if the battery is in stock. If the battery that need to be ordered, it can take a couple of months.
“Definitely consider (lithium) when you’re investing in your cart batteries,” Wolbeck said. “In the long run, you could save yourself a lot of money.”