[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by rjm1cc

The question is how much carbon does the production of and use of a gas cart use in comparison to an electric cart. It would not surprise me that the production of the batteries offsets the carbon produced by the gas one.

EXACTLY, and that's the very part of "go electric" that very few, if anyone, ever mentions !

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by toeser

I can't speak to your model specifically, but in total, gas golf carts in TV produce an enormous amount of pollution (including mine).

I bike seven days a week, mostly on the multimodal paths. My bikes accumulate a greasy black coating on both the tires and frame. Just touching my bike when it has not been recently cleaned leaves my fingers all black. I worry about the effect on my lungs.

I do a similar amount of riding in a northern state, and my bikes there never build up this kind of exhaust crud.

I am not disagreeing or being at all insincere in this, but just from my own observations on this: could the extraordinary number of lawn service trucks, and trailers, etc. in the villages with trucks that just gush out totally disgusting, black clouds of smoke constantly, also add to this "exhaust crud" ? I about chocked to death just waiting in the line from 466 to get through the gate to to get to Pimlico rec center. Never lived in any community, even in some wealthy areas, where so many people had lawn and landscape workers, and every day of the week ? Even on Sundays ? I always assumed most communities were like those where we have lived in different places, yard workers can only work in the development on certain days, we lived in one where on on T. and Th., but whatever, it does seem there is more black smoke coming out of old trucks than any place we've lived.... perhaps there is no truck inspection required here too ? Just one possible reason.

[Bay Kid]

What about all the burning that goes on and produces pollution?

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

The average breathing, human being emits over 700 lbs. of CO2 per year.

Without CO2, life wouldn't exist.

CO2 is a not a pollutant.

I want to decrease my carbon footprint, so I hold my breath.

[MrFlorida]

There's more carbon coming out of the politicians mouths than out golf cars.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by MrFlorida

There's more carbon coming out of the politicians mouths than out golf cars.

Doubt that, since they don’t talk out of their mouths

[MorTech]

CO2 is not a pollutant...CO2 is not a pollutant. CO2 is not a pollutant. Please throw your TeeVee away.

It does emit NOx and CO but nothing compared to what naturally seeps out of the Earth...for billions of years.

[MorTech]

The one downside of an electric cart is that you aren't feeding the plants as you drive.

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

Assuming you were honestly interested in an answer....


Pollution seems to be measured in the amount of CO2 released and the amount of CO2 released is proportional to the amount of gasoline burned.

My cart gets very close to 50mpg while my car gets more like 30mpg. Every mile that I choose to drive my cart rather than my car reduces the amount of CO2 I produce.

Cars probably emit less pollutants/unburnt gas than a golf cart due to emission controls on cars. Just drive behind a golf cart and through a tunnel

[MrChip72]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

The Villages Founders main mistake in my book was not making TV gas cart free, and go all electric.
For the simple reason they stink, and those exhaust fumes can't be good for anyone's health.

All electric carts are not practical for a lot of cases. I don't think most people from south of 44 would feel very comfortable taking an electric cart to LSL and back. People with gas carts make that trip all the time.

I have a Yamaha gas cart, but we rented a lithium electric cart when we had extra visitors for almost a week.

We almost ended up with the electric cart running out of juice on the way home just by going to a restaurant and then one of the squares and back in a 4 hour span. We were down to something like 5% battery according to the dashboard. Was not much more than 20 miles of total driving. It seems when they claim a 40 mile range it becomes almost half that if you're averaging 20-25 MPH.

[UpNorth]

I don't care if my lithium electric cart has "only" a 60 mile range, or that it is "bad" for the environment. The driving experience is far better than any brand of gas cart around, and zero maintenance to boot. Gas carts stink in more ways than one.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by MrChip72

All electric carts are not practical for a lot of cases. I don't think most people from south of 44 would feel very comfortable taking an electric cart to LSL and back. People with gas carts make that trip all the time.

I have a Yamaha gas cart, but we rented a lithium electric cart when we had extra visitors for almost a week.

We almost ended up with the electric cart running out of juice on the way home just by going to a restaurant and then one of the squares and back in a 4 hour span. We were down to something like 5% battery according to the dashboard. Was not much more than 20 miles of total driving. It seems when they claim a 40 mile range it becomes almost half that if you're averaging 20-25 MPH.

I have driven in my electric cart from Eisenhower to Savannah Center to Spanish Springs to Lake Sumter Landing to Sawgrass to Ednas to Brownwood and back to Eisenhower with at least 1/4 charge remaining. That's 42 miles with at least 14 miles remaining. People south of 44 can drive to Lake Sumter Landing and back with no concern in a modern EV cart.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I have driven in my electric cart from Eisenhower to Savannah Center to Spanish Springs to Lake Sumter Landing to Sawgrass to Ednas to Brownwood and back to Eisenhower with at least 1/4 charge remaining. That's 42 miles with at least 14 miles remaining. People south of 44 can drive to Lake Sumter Landing and back with no concern in a modern EV cart.

Sounds like you are a responsible electric cart owner who realizes the range of your cart and acts accordingly. Unfortunately, not everyone is like you. I recently spoke with an employee of one of the golf cart rescue services and learned that their number of rescue calls has exploded along with the overall increase in electric cart usage in the Villages. They are either going to have to increase rates for everyone or begin charging different rates for electric and gas carts because of the significantly higher number of rescue calls per electric cart customer. I was told many people have a false sense of security regarding their carts range because they have newer technology lithium batteries and fail to keep their carts adequately charged. As an owner of gas golf carts, I hope they opt for tiered pricing rather than increasing rates for all types of golf carts.

[mtdjed]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I have driven in my electric cart from Eisenhower to Savannah Center to Spanish Springs to Lake Sumter Landing to Sawgrass to Ednas to Brownwood and back to Eisenhower with at least 1/4 charge remaining. That's 42 miles with at least 14 miles remaining. People south of 44 can drive to Lake Sumter Landing and back with no concern in a modern EV cart.

That's great. Just be careful doing the same trip next year, the following year, etc.

I agree that electric carts are quieter, less smelly and create less local pollution.

I just happen to own a Yesteryear gas cart built in 2006 on a 2004 Club Car Frame. We use it for golf and mail, neighborhood travel, nightly trips to lake Sumter Landing, local shopping to Colony and Lake Sumter landing and a few other things. We fill it whenever gage says near half but only when near a gas source, ie no special trips. Always have a 2.5 Gallon reserve of fuel properly stored for emergency. I am guessing no more than 50 Miles per week traveled. Fuel usage, fill up every couple of weeks, whenever we reach 1/2 tank. Usually 2 Gal +.

Bottom line - no worry about distance on any Village Trip even if Power Outage for several weeks. No concern regarding distance due to age of battery. No towing because of cart Fuel/Power requirements.

Would not make any change unless current cart S T Bed, My impact on global pollution is less than the cost of producing a new electric cart

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Sounds like you are a responsible electric cart owner who realizes the range of your cart and acts accordingly. Unfortunately, not everyone is like you. I recently spoke with an employee of one of the golf cart rescue services and learned that their number of rescue calls has exploded along with the overall increase in electric cart usage in the Villages. They are either going to have to increase rates for everyone or begin charging different rates for electric and gas carts because of the significantly higher number of rescue calls per electric cart customer. I was told many people have a false sense of security regarding their carts range because they have newer technology lithium batteries and fail to keep their carts adequately charged. As an owner of gas golf carts, I hope they opt for tiered pricing rather than increasing rates for all types of golf carts.

I've often thought it was unfortunate more people were not like me

That's interesting information about the cart rescues. As easy as it is to keep the cart charged I am surprised that some have problems with it. It will be a shame if rates have to increase due to those that can't remember to plug the cart in or check the charge before leaving.