Doesn't take long to travel 50 miles in the Villages now plus playing a round of golf. A gas cart will go the same speed on the last mile as the first mile not to mention not having to crawl up the hills.
Lots of dangers in dealing with cart batteries too. Doesn't matter to me what cart anyone chooses but we need to tell the whole story. Distilled water is fairly expensive in large amounts and sulfuric electrolyte dripping on the garage floor and driveway is not too good either.
Golf Cart Batteries: Is Yours A Ticking Time Bomb?
The danger with golf cart batteries is that many require that distilled water constantly be added to keep the leaded plates submerged in the battery's sulfuric electrolyte. The other factor in this equation is that most owners don't realize that their golf cart batteries need this type of constant attention. The average cart is powered by lead acid batteries which are positioned underneath the seat. It isn't uncommon to fold back the seat of the cart and find all 6 batteries desperately in need of fluid.
When batteries run dry, they can smoke and even explode. With each battery packing the explosive power of a grenade, the potential danger is a real threat. In order to prevent this, it is essential to check your golf cart batteries on a regular basis. First, there should be no corrosive phosphorus should be growing around the terminals.
Next, you'll need to remove the caps and check the water level. The water level in your batteries should be just below the filler cap's opening, if it's too low, use a funnel to fill with distilled water only. If your golf cart batteries are completely dry, you should probably take them for maintenance. If levels get too low and remain low, there is a chance that the battery won't hold a charge or that it could be a potential fire hazard.
If you're using wet cell batteries, be sure to develop-and stick to-a regular maintenance program. The odds are fairly low that one of your golf cart batteries will explode under your seat, but more likely than that of the largely publicized Sony laptop battery. More common is that you can dramatically shorten the life of your wet battery without proper care and maintenance.
Wet-cell Batteries | Learn About Chemicals Around Your House | Pesticides | US EPA
Wet-Cell Batteries:
What are they?
Wet-cell batteries are used in cars, trucks, tractors and other motor vehicles to provide the spark to start the vehicle.
What's in them?
Wet-cell batteries contain lead and a solution of sulfuric acid.
What health and safety precautions do you need to think about with wet-cell batteries?
When activated, the electrolyte solution in the battery produces explosive gases which are easily ignited. Manufacturers of batteries containing sulfuric acid must use labels which warn consumers of the dangers from battery acid and accumulated gases. Sulfuric acid is extremely caustic, which means it burns. Fumes are strongly irritating and contact can cause burning and charring of the skin; it can cause blindness if you get it in your eyes. Lead is poisonous in all forms and accumulates in our bodies and in the environment.
