Quote:
Originally Posted by glgene
I know there have different threads on the topic of Gas vs. Electric golf cart (pros and cons), but I don't remember answers to these questions:
1) What would it cost in cart gasoline for a typical month (whatever typical is!)?
2) What would it cost in electricity to charge a cart over a month's time of typical usage?
3) How often would you need a new set of batteries (I have heard approx. every 3 yrs. at a cost of $800, but I don't know the accuracy of that statement)?
Please...please...don't get hung up on the word 'typical.' Please give it your best shot, without saying 'it all depends.' Also, don't need comments on smell or noise of gas cart; that has been covered in other threads.
Just the 'operating cost' difference. Thanks!
Gene  |
1) I cannot speak to the cost of gas, I read on here that it is 40 miles/gal.
2) Well it depends, oh c’mon bear with me
I am not sure how you have this discussion without knowing the carts usage. That said, I have read from several sites including this one where someone measured the cost to charge an electric cart to be about 2-2.5 cents/mile.
3. Am I really going to say it all depends again
? I sure hope you will not mind. Forget maintenance, we will assume the batteries have been well maintained.
Amp Hour rating matters… Usage matters…..
If I have an electric cart with 8-6v batteries that I use 4 times a week for a total of 20 miles the batteries could last 10 years.
On the other hand if you drive a Club Car with 4-12v batteries 40 miles a day they may last 18 months.
My Dad and his buddy are what I consider medium usage cart owners, typical day may be town square or round of golf and town square (maybe average 10 - 15 miles per day, with days up to 30 miles). They just traded in their packs (6-8v) which lasted 4+ years. I say 4 plus as before the trade in my Dad swapped his into a woman’s cart whose batteries were awful and who only needed a range of 5 - 10 miles max once in a while. Those may last for quite a bit longer if maintained.
I budget for three years to be conservative, I have yet to own a cart for 4 years. I have two carts, my favorite has 8-6v batteries. The pack cost me $771 on 2/17/2010. Hard to classify how much I use the cart and I do not track. My gut feel is I am 15 – 25 miles, I go everywhere in it some days. I just did some long test runs and this pack is in terrific shape right now.
Will they last four? Will let you know after the test runs next March.
FYI. Cost for a set of 6-8V Trojan batteries (T875) is about $650.