I can't speak for your neighbor but my Yamaha EFI gets 50-52 mpg, consistently. I do 3 oil changes a year at $5 per oil change or $15 per year. A new battery is about $80 and, yes, they do last about 5 years (based on friends with older carts). The engine should last about 4000 hours or 60,000+ miles. As I already indicated, the annual operating costs are very low (and I tend to be a bit AR with regard to maintenance). I only point these out because the numbers you posted are not representative of what I experience. I would put the difference in operating costs between gas and electric at a total of $120 per year for 4000 miles per year, not $240 per year. This excludes battery replacements cost for the electric cart - just fuel (gas vs. electricity) and maintenance. At least for me anyway as I do my own maintenance.
GTM Research has the 2020 estimate for Lithium-ion at $217 per kWh. If you search long enough I suppose you can find some unqualified statistic that indicated something different. What does a 6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack for an existing golf cart cost today, installed, with electronics, and charger? $2500? It would take 20 years to break even. If you are buying a new EZGO cart with Lithium-ion batteries, what is the incremental cost over a new gas cart? If it is $1000 then it looks attractive. If it is $3000 then not so much. The industry quoted price per kWh for raw lithium-ion parts is not what you will pay in an end product like a golf cart.
As I already stated, different strokes ... However, I would guess that 10 years from now only electric carts will be manufactured.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MorTech
A 21700 cell is right at $10 which is $222 per kwh.
LG is supplying GM (Bolt/Volt) today at $150 per kwh.
Which cart is getting 50 mpg? My neighbors 2015 Yamaha EFI gets about 35 mpg.
The oil needs changing every 1000 miles at $20. The starter battery is $100 for 5 years. Right there is $100 per year.
OK then, $0.03 difference gas/electricity x 4000 miles is $120 per year so figure $120 for maintenance and $120 gasoline = $240 per year less for electric cart. Even if you need to replace the lithium pack at 5 years ($240x5=$1200), it is break even. The only downside with electric is range per charge and charge time (250 miles with a 4 minute "charge" time for gasoline can't be beat  ) but there is nothing to break or wear on an AC electric cart drive train...It is mostly solid state except for one relay and one motor shaft end bearing. Also, whenever I leave the house, I know I have 60 miles of range. I can't even remember the last time I looked at my fuel gauge.
We will see soon what the EZGO Elite can do...And at what cost. |