[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by biker1

Regarding the "solar footprint" argument, the impact from running a gas cart is below minuscule. Unless you have put PV panels on your roof and drive only electric cars such as a Leaf or Tesla, such comments hypocritical.

I understand your position and respectfully disagree, let's leave it that.

[biker1]

We would consider an electric when/if lithium-ion battery packs become available at a lower price point.

Originally Posted by photo1902

Same here. Very happy with our 2014 Yamaha. No doubt some of the older carts are noisy and may have fume issues, newer ones don't. I'm open to gas or electric, but unless I saw a time tested electric cart which held up to the mileage claims, I wouldn't trade my gas cart for anything.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

Most folks that say that lost their sensitivity to smell,
it happens to some as we age, I'm not trying to be funny, it's fact.

Thanks, but I smell just fine, so to speak.

Can you provide the cost of the solar panel? Also, how long does a cart need to be left outside to charge?

[biker1]

Too funny. I guess this means you don't have PV panels on your house and drive a gas car but are happy to suggest that those of us who drive gas golf carts need to consider our carbon footprint even though the carbon footprint from a car and house is much, much greater than a golf cart. How convenient.

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

I understand your position and respectfully disagree, let's leave it that.

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by biker1

We would consider an electric when/if lithium-ion battery packs become available at a lower price point.

They are fantastic, but at $4K not yet practical, unless you like expensive toys.

We are looking at them as we speak, should have pricing later this week.

But if they can't be done close to $2K, we will not offer them at this time.

Originally Posted by biker1

Too funny. I guess this means you don't have PV panels on your house

I do

?

[graciegirl]

I don't like marketing that is arguing.


I do like my old Yamaha. Bought her used almost nine years ago and she keeps gettin' me where I'm goin'.


Sweetie bought....and then sold an electric cart. Didn't get him where he was going, one too many times. We now have gas. Both of us.


Stop.

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by photo1902

Can you provide the cost of the solar panel? Also, how long does a cart need to be left outside to charge?

Sure, https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ar-golf-carts-

It needs to stay in sun according to volt meter which is included in each install.

Come to the squares when the dates are set and take a look.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I don't like marketing that is arguing.


I do like my old Yamaha. Bought her used almost nine years ago and she keeps gettin' me where I'm goin'.


Sweetie bought....and then sold an electric cart. Didn't get him where he was going, one too many times. We now have gas. Both of us.


Stop.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

Sure, https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ar-golf-carts-

It needs to stay in sun according to volt meter which is included in each install.

Come to the squares when the dates are set and take a look.

What is the cost please? Warranty?

[jimbo2012]

Cost $550

Warranty 25 years on the panel one year all else.

see here please

Solar Golf Carts

[tuccillo]

I worked up the numbers in a previous thread. Here is a summary.

I will use energy units (watts-hours) since they make the most sense.

- A new, fully charged 8 x 6-volt battery pack can hold approximately 12000 watt-hours of energy.

- A 260 watt solar panel on a golf cart roof will deliver, on average across the year, 1000 watt-hours of energy per day if the cart is outside all day (and not under a tree). This is according to NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado, I taught some classes there) and takes into account our latitude and climatic conditions.

- Therefore, a 50% discharged battery pack would take about 6 days to recharge if left outside all day and not driven (6 days times 1000 watt-hours per day equals 6000 watt-hours or 50% of the capacity). Estimations for smaller capacity battery packs and different percentages of discharge are easy.

- A 1000 watt-hours of energy costs about 13 cents from SECO. Therefore, you can save a maximum of 13 cents per day with the solar panel on the roof of the golf cart or about $47 per year. If the cart is not outside all day and/or if you don't actually consume 1000 watt-hours of energy (approximately 6 miles of driving) then the cost saving will be less.

-An electric golf cart consumes approximately 150-200 watt-hours per mile. It depends on your driving style and where you are going. The reason many people see 60+ miles of range with their golf cart is because 60 miles times 150-200 watt-hours per mile is about the capacity of many battery packs (12000 watt-hours for a 8x6-volt pack). Of course, you are always better off not fully discharging your battery pack.

- In terms of extending the range of the golf cart, if the cart is outside all day then the range can be extended about 6 miles. In other words, energy will flow into the battery pack from the solar panel and will also flow out of the battery pack to power the motor and the battery pack will discharge more slowly than without the solar panel. 6 miles times 150-200 watt-hours per mile equates to the 1000 watt-hours per day of energy you can obtain from the solar panel if the golf cart is left outside all day.

- In terms of extending the life of the battery pack by keeping it in a higher state of charge, accurate estimations are difficult. However, you can make some observations. If you aren't driving many miles per day (say 6 miles per day) and you are always plugging in at night then your battery pack will always be nearly fully charged. The impact from a solar panel is likely to be minimal. If you are driving a lot of miles per day and discharging the pack deeply then the low amount of energy from a solar panel (1000 watt-hours per day) is likely to be a relatively small percentage of the power discharged and probably won't have much impact either. Regardless, running a controlled experiment is difficult and would take several years.

Originally Posted by photo1902

Thanks, but I smell just fine, so to speak.

Can you provide the cost of the solar panel? Also, how long does a cart need to be left outside to charge?

[Bay Kid]

50 mpg with my Yamaha. Never left me.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by tuccillo

I worked up the numbers in a previous thread. Here is a summary.

I will use energy units (watts-hours) since they make the most sense.

- A new, fully charged 8 x 6-volt battery pack can hold approximately 12000 watt-hours of energy.

- A 260 watt solar panel on a golf cart roof will deliver, on average across the year, 1000 watt-hours of energy per day if the cart is outside all day (and not under a tree). This is according to NREL (National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado, I taught some classes there) and takes into account our latitude and climatic conditions.

- Therefore, a 50% discharged battery pack would take about 6 days to recharge if left outside all day and not driven (6 days times 1000 watt-hours per day equals 6000 watt-hours or 50% of the capacity). Estimations for smaller capacity battery packs and different percentages of discharge are easy.

- A 1000 watt-hours of energy costs about 13 cents from SECO. Therefore, you can save a maximum of 13 cents per day with the solar panel on the roof of the golf cart or about $47 per year. If the cart is not outside all day and/or if you don't actually consume 1000 watt-hours of energy (approximately 6 miles of driving) then the cost saving will be less.

-An electric golf cart consumes approximately 150-200 watt-hours per mile. It depends on your driving style and where you are going. The reason many people see 60+ miles of range with their golf cart is because 60 miles times 150-200 watt-hours per mile is about the capacity of many battery packs (12000 watt-hours for a 8x6-volt pack). Of course, you are always better off not fully discharging your battery pack.

- In terms of extending the range of the golf cart, if the cart is outside all day then the range can be extended about 6 miles. In other words, energy will flow into the battery pack from the solar panel and will also flow out of the battery pack to power the motor and the battery pack will discharge more slowly than without the solar panel. 6 miles times 150-200 watt-hours per mile equates to the 1000 watt-hours per day of energy you can obtain from the solar panel if the golf cart is left outside all day.

Thanks, Tucillo. I'll stick with my Yamaha Gas Cart. Maybe 10 years from now when Im ready to trade it in/sell it, electric technology will improve.

[jimbo2012]

tuccillo

Your finding do not agree with ours, your opinion is not based on actual use or measured results they merely hypothetical.

Unlike as we have in real time testing and use over the last few years.

You are welcome to see the cart when they are at the squares.

To debate your numbers here is pointless, especially when you have no idea what the panel output voltage is nor how the controller was engineered.


.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

tuccillo

Your finding do not agree with ours, your opinion is not based on actual use or measured results they merely hypothetical.

Unlike as we have in real time testing and use over the last few years.

You are welcome to see the cart when they are at the squares.

To debate your numbers here is pointless, especially when you have no idea what the panel output voltage is nor how the controller was engineered.


.

Jimbo, with all due respect, I'm not a fan of leaving my cart outside for the time it requires to charge. One of the requirements for the home I bought was a golf cart garage for that very reason. I'm very interested in green energy, and like to think I have an open mind about it. I've take a number of steps to reduce energy usage in my house. I wish you luck in your solar cart project.