You can get batteries about $200 cheaper than $816, if you look. OOOH and Paulandjean, if you don't smell the gas exhaust in the tunnels, you might need to get the smeller checked.:yuck:

You can get them installed for a little over $600 by a couple different folks.

There was some guy who went to the doctor with a bad case of flatulence and asked for some help. Said it was not a real problem because there was no noise or smell.

The doc gave him a prescription and told him to come back in a week. The next week he came back and told the doctor he still had the problem, except now they caused this terrible smell.

Doctor gave him a different prescription and said "now that we have your nose fixed, we will work on your hearing".

I would have to say that having an electric cart has added to our enjoyment of our retirment in TV. We place high value on the smooth ride, quiet operation, the lack of exhaust fumes, lack of smell, and when we forgot to plug it in for a week, we went almost 70 miles on a charge according to the odometer. We have 2,000 miles on the cart since we moved here 9 months ago. We opted for Par Car due to 5 year warranty, steel frame, and USA manufacture. Of course, your milage may vary.

10 miles a day = 3650 mi. per year, 40 miles to a gallon = 91.25 gallons of gas a year. Todays average price of gas $3.85 X 91.25 = $351.31 per year for gas.

Batteries cost less than $750 every 3 years to replace. $750 / 3 = $250 per year.
Which is less expensive?

Unless you are plugging into you neighbor's house to charge, you will have to pay to "fill up" your batteries. I have read estimates of 2 cents per mile to charge, but I have never cared enough to take the time to test that figure out.

gas vs electric carts
 

Good point Elevator, the gas will soon be over 5.00 a gallon, its that price in Washington already., so now Electric carts are looking better all the time. We won't take into effect there is more maintenance on gas carts vs electric carts.

As gas price increases (because of the cost of oil) so will the cost of electricity. Usually lagging a bit, but it will go up. Also all studies show there is more maintenance with electric then gas. See post on page one of this thread. Even gas at $5.00 adds $7.50 to the gas operating cost and is still below the electric and the electric cost will increase as well. Again, I have one of each and each has there use in my travels. But chose what you like, not what you think is lower cost to operate or better for the environment or other. All those things can be supported for either cart.

gas carts
 

Like I said, I never have a problem with gas smells in these carts. As for tunnels, you are in them for what 5 seconds,and how many times a day.As far as noise still no problem. Remember the cars we use to own years back. Seems like a lot of complaining for nothing.Whats the saying "Man Up".

I sent away for one of these KW meters. I will let everyone know what it actually costs to charge my cart, once i have had it for a few months.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16882715001

Neato!! Love to hear what you learn.....

After 1 week I have used 16.70 KW @ 0.104150 / KWH that is $1.74. My 4 batteries are Trojan 1260 Plus and the EZ-GO RXV was purchased new in August of 2009. I have averaged over 10 miles per day this week.

I drive my golf cart all over the palce although I use my Mini Cooper on longer drive for shopping. If we figure 250 miles per tank and I have had 6 fillups and considering each fillup had a gallon or two in reserve we can estimate I had basically 4 fillups. That is 1000 miles. I've been in TV for six weeks. Who woulda thunk it.

Fun to know..... I am no elctrical engineer and wonder if pack configuration matters?

Will put this tool on my Christmas wish list :024:

Thanks for posting....

Thanks Elevatorman, glad to know that the real costs of charging an electric cart are more like $8/month than the $21 quoted in the message about The Villages Golf Cart Store. A similar infomercial appeared in the latest HOA newsletter.
This information was given to me by `The Villages Golf Car Store`

Average Monthly costs to operate

Electric (based on 10 Miles per day)

2.5 KWH to charge ( for new batteries) 0.29
10 KWH to charge ( for old Batteries) 1.13
Average cost per month for electric 21.30
Battery replacement (3 yrs=$816.00) 22.67
Difference in resale value 1.39
Annual Maintenance 4.17

Total monthly cost to operate an Electric Cart 49.53

Gas
Based on 10 miles per day average
40 mpg @ 4.00 Per gallon 30.00
Battery 6 years=80 0.11
Annual Maintenace 5.39

Total cost to operate a Gas Cart 35.50

Replacing the batteries every 3 years is not a valid number either. And at least one respected brand of electric cart has no dealer service requirements taking the maintenance costs down to zero.

I suspect that there is a profit motive for putting forward such a misleading comparison.

I have had one of each for 2 and a half years. Electric costs more, without any doubt. Those numbers may be off a little one way or the other, but not a lot. And I have never seen any cart with zero maintenance. Tires? Brake adjustment? Cleaning terminals? Replacing light bulbs?

However the difference in cost to operate should not be your deciding factor. At $10 a month delta, $120 a year, about $700 to $800 over the useful life? Get the one you like for the reasons you like. Both have good points and both have bad points. What you prefer to drive should decide and nothing else. Any other argument for one over the other has significant holes.