Quote:
Originally Posted by thekeithfan
$900 for the solar unit, plus electricity to supplement the charging, plus batteries every 4 years. I'm glad I have a gas cart. I'm saving a ton of money and my range is what 250 miles?
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Are you sure you're saving?
Gas
Oil change every 250 hours, about $35
Do you have an hour meter?
If you use the cart every day that would be every 3 months or so. $125 year
Must check oil
Now if you forget and blow the engine, to replace it must be $2500
Oil & grease leaks in driveway or garage
On going maintenance Oil filter air, gas & air spark plug tuneups and yes your battery.
higher insurance.
Smell higher emissions (aka Carbon footprint), harder to have conversations with passengers.
Electric motors are far simpler in design and construction than a conventional internal combustion engine. Besides the far fewer moving parts and much quieter operation It takes time and you are going out of your way to get to gas station, they aren't on the golf cart paths to fill-up and have to take their cart in for the scheduled oil changes and other service.
I'm certainly not saying that electric will be flawless. Doubtlessly, given new elements in the technology the starting point for operating an electtric is probably far more advantageous to the owner than is generally speaking in terms of a gas cart.
Electric
No noise, quiet
Solar will extend battery life well beyond 4 years because they are always being charged and maintained.
Lithium batteries will be coming down in price lasting 12-15 years.
Low cost of repairs if any.
There are gauges available to indicate state of charge ie: miles to go.
No regular maintenance cost of time out of service.
It cost about 15 cents a mile to run a gas cart plus the maintenance costs, the $900 or so dollars in solar add on pays for itself in under a year.
Most days you will not plug in to supplement the power, my friend has one that has needed to be plugged in for the last two years.
I have one on my RV works great batteries on on their 6th year.
Is it for everybody absolutely not.