[Bfischel]

I have a modified 2011 Club car DS with 8 6V Trojan T125 batteries and a 5.5 HP motor. Currently getting 45 miles with real world driving on the Villages cart paths, while retaining abut 15% reserve when returning.

Are others experiencing a similar driving range?

Also curious if this electric cart might be capable of climbing the very steep bridge over Hwy 441?

[cmfjr]

Yes, one can get over the bridge with an electric cart. I have 2 year old 8/6 volt T125 batteries in my ParCar and drive it from Penneycamp cross the bridge, go to Lowes and return to home w/o any difficultly. I too get 45/55 miles per charge with 15/20% charge left. Hope this helps.

[jimbo2012]

With the addition solar you can bump that range up into the 70's

[Belmont4-150]

Solar will give no more than a 4-5% bump up during continuous driving unless you stop the cart for a while, a LONG while. That said, a typical continuous run will only add 2-3 miles in range. Don't get me wrong. I am a staunch advocate of alternative power sources. If anyone tries to sell you the solar based on those claims then AVOID. The best application/use I can recommend is for the 18 hole golfer who then goes out for cocktails or dinner (lunch) and then home.
An 18 hole round of golf will take between 4 and 4-1/2 hours and cover approximately 5 miles from start to finish. That gives a fair amount of time for the panels to charge while only discharging 5 miles of driving use. If you then head to the clubhouse or downtown for lunch or dinner and stay for a few hours then you get additional charge.
Sounds stupid to say but for some reason many are unaware, solar panels will NOT charge your batteries on very overcast days or at NIGHT.
Lastly, there are several options for solar panels, mostly in their amperage rating, or simply put, how quickly the batteries will charge. The higher the amperage rating, the more expensive. My cart takes 10-12 hours to fully charge from almost fully discharged with a standard 20 Amp Club Car Charger. Many solar panels are simply 1-2 Amp chargers. At that rate it would take 100-240 hours to fully charge with solar panels alone. A cart with a 40 mile range (mine with 6 @ 8 volt batteries) would only get 0.4 miles range for every hour of solar charge, at best!

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I get over the golf cart bridge several times a day on my 2002 Club Car with three year old batteries.

What would make you think that any electric cart can't get over the bridge?

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by Belmont4-150

Solar will give no more than a 4-5% bump up during continuous driving unless you stop the cart for a while, a LONG while. That said, a typical continuous run will only add 2-3 miles in range. Don't get me wrong. I am a staunch advocate of alternative power sources. If anyone tries to sell you the solar based on those claims then AVOID. The best application/use I can recommend is for the 18 hole golfer who then goes out for cocktails or dinner (lunch) and then home.
An 18 hole round of golf will take between 4 and 4-1/2 hours and cover approximately 5 miles from start to finish. That gives a fair amount of time for the panels to charge while only discharging 5 miles of driving use. If you then head to the clubhouse or downtown for lunch or dinner and stay for a few hours then you get additional charge.
Sounds stupid to say but for some reason many are unaware, solar panels will NOT charge your batteries on very overcast days or at NIGHT.
Lastly, there are several options for solar panels, mostly in their amperage rating, or simply put, how quickly the batteries will charge. The higher the amperage rating, the more expensive. My cart takes 10-12 hours to fully charge from almost fully discharged with a standard 20 Amp Club Car Charger. Many solar panels are simply 1-2 Amp chargers. At that rate it would take 100-240 hours to fully charge with solar panels alone. A cart with a 40 mile range (mine with 6 @ 8 volt batteries) would only get 0.4 miles range for every hour of solar charge, at best!

Not sure where you're getting this info from, my panel puts out many more amps than that in a day, hasn't been plugged in to shore power for years.

My range is over 70 miles a day

[rhood]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

Not sure where you're getting this info from, my panel puts out many more amps than that in a day, hasn't been plugged in to shore power for years.

My range is over 70 miles a day

How many amps and watts does your panel put out ? ? ? Or don't you know ? ? ?

[renrod]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

Not sure where you're getting this info from, my panel puts out many more amps than that in a day, hasn't been plugged in to shore power for years.

My range is over 70 miles a day

Still waiting for that test drive you've been talking about. When will it be?

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by rhood

How many amps and watts does your panel put out ? ? ? Or don't you know ? ? ?

Yes I do know.

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by Bfischel

I have a modified 2011 Club car DS with 8 6V Trojan T125 batteries and a 5.5 HP motor. Currently getting 45 miles with real world driving on the Villages cart paths, while retaining abut 15% reserve when returning.

Are others experiencing a similar driving range?

Also curious if this electric cart might be capable of climbing the very steep bridge over Hwy 441?

I am curious where the 15% reserve number comes from?

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

I am curious where the 15% reserve number comes from?

Sounds like he means 85% was drawn down perhaps to 46.5 volts

[rhood]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

Yes I do know.

Please, what are the specs? Watts and amps.

[gustavo]

Reality check to the claims of increasing the range of an electric cart by 50% with the addition of a solar panel:

Since the owner of the cart that hasn’t been connected to shore power for years and puts out many more “amps per day” than 1-2 amps will not reveal the specs for his cart, I will offer a reasonable estimate.

A typical high efficiency solar panel that is 3’x5’ (reasonable size to put on the top of a cart) puts out 275 watts at standard test conditions (1000 watts/M^2 of sunshine). The typical real world energy density you can expect for a full sunny day is 800 watts/M^2. At this density that panel puts out 205 Watts.

This energy is delivered at approximately 31 to 35 volts depending on load. Since the golf carts run on 36 or 48 volt nominal voltage, a DC to DC converter is required to convert the solar panel output to a voltage that would be able to charge the batteries. This converter even if 85% efficient would reduce the usable output of the panel to 175 watts. At a 48 volt nominal battery voltage that would be 3.6 amps.

The typical cart riding around the Villages draws 25-150 amps depending on whether they are coasting, climbing an incline, extra weight in the cart, etc. Additionally, the weight of the panel, mounting hardware, wiring and converter would be equivalent to an extra battery in the cart (approx. 65 lbs), further reducing the usable energy from the solar panel.

So as a previous poster alluded to, if you travel slow then park in the sun for a reasonable period of time, rinse wash, and repeat, you will get a minimal increase in range, over batteries only.

As to not having to ever connect the cart to shore power, you will either need a big hole in your garage roof to let in the sun or park the cart outside, neither option is very desirable.

Just my opinion, I may be wrong.

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by gustavo

Reality check to the claims of increasing the range of an electric cart by 50% with the addition of a solar panel:

Since the owner of the cart that hasn’t been connected to shore power for years and puts out many more “amps per day” than 1-2 amps will not reveal the specs for his cart, I will offer a reasonable estimate.

You're calculations are off by a lot.

Let's leave it a that, to be candid, this info is proprietary info and I'm not posting it, in essence giving out a lot time and $$ in research and development of the system.

It works and has been demonstrated here in TV.

Since the golf carts run on 36 or 48 volt nominal voltage,

This really has no application on 36v

Additionally, the weight of the panel, mounting hardware, wiring and converter would be equivalent to an extra battery in the cart (approx. 65 lbs), further reducing the usable energy from the solar panel.

I don't use a converter? it's a controller.
Panel and aluminum hardware about 35#, wire 2# maybe all up #40.
you can't really add one it would be two at 130#

So as a previous poster alluded to, if you travel slow then park in the sun for a reasonable period of time, rinse wash, and repeat, you will get a minimal increase in range, over batteries only.

That's simply not correct, I proven it with two carts.

As to not having to ever connect the cart to shore power, you will either need a big hole in your garage roof to let in the sun or park the cart outside, neither option is very desirable.

you can bring yours in and plug in.

My cart stays out all day, no garage needed.

I will sell two 110V chargers if interested, don't need them

[rhood]

Where's your proof ? ? You would need a huge solar cell. Propriatary is another term for "I won't tell you but just believe me".