Just A Simple Observation

[rubicon]

My wife and I moved here August 2006 and in that time there have been many changes.

One of the most dramatic in my mind is that the majority of golf carts purchased today are gas carts. Back in 2006 electric motors dominated the the pathways.

Observations welcome

[dbussone]

Is it because you can travel further in a gas cart?

[JoMar]

There was a time when all golf courses had electric carts and then switched to gas so they could get more rounds per cart. Can't tell you how many times I had to call a pro shop to bring a new cart because I ran out of power. Today, golf courses are switching back to electric as the technology has improved including range....Plus it's quiet. Today's carts have ranges that can be 50 - 80 miles depending on size and quantity of batteries (marketing hype included), electric has less moving parts, is quiet, keeps the gas odors out of your garage and provides a pleasant ride. I suspect the traveling farther isn't an issue....not sure anyone wants to ride a cart for 50 miles regardless how comfortable the seats are. If you go from Brownwood to SS and back, that's probably a 35 mile trip (who does that), add 4 miles for a round of golf and you still have range left. Pull into your garage, plug it in and go the bed. Technology moves forward but sometimes it takes perception a while to catch up. Oh yeah, we have two electrics...a ParCar and a StarEV on order so I am a tad biased.

[pooh]

I've noticed the same thing....appears there are more gas carts around since we arrived, also in 2006. During our years here, we've had three carts. Our present one is gas. Some friends have also switched to gasoline power. For us, we got more range and the cart was always ready to go.

[kaydee]

We still have our original electric cart that we bought in 2001.. last yr we invested in a gas cart. Naturally I love the new cart because it is new but I still very much enjoy the electric ..do like how quite & smooth it is.

[Polar Bear]

I know I would like a electric cart...quiet, etc. If I ever have a second cart, I will likely buy electric. But I bought a gas cart earlier this year and have no regrets. I put a few gallons in about once a month and drive it quite a bit.

[JGVillages]

I live on the far north side and originally had a Par Car 80 mile charge version. When the batteries are new this range was fine. After 1 1/2 years my range started to decrease. At first I could go to Havana, play golf, and return home with just undr 1/2 charge. After 1 1/2 years the same trip would put me under 1/4 in the "red" zone. Now, do I continue to travel and not be sure I can get home or just drive my car, or replace the batteries again. I replaced the cart with gas. No more worries as I get 200+ miles on a tank and with my bluetooth headset on the noise is minimal. It is all personal preferance.

[Hacker1]

I live on the far north side and originally had a Par Car 80 mile charge version. When the batteries are new this range was fine. After 1 1/2 years my range started to decrease. At first I could go to Havana, play golf, and return home with just undr 1/2 charge. After 1 1/2 years the same trip would put me under 1/4 in the "red" zone. Now, do I continue to travel and not be sure I can get home or just drive my car, or replace the batteries again. I replaced the cart with gas. No more worries as I get 200+ miles on a tank and with my bluetooth headset on the noise is minimal. It is all personal preferance.

My personal preference would be for the majority to switch back to electric in order to alleviate the gas fumes, especially those that linger in the tunnels, because not only do they smell awful, but I think they are also a serious health hazard. Since using a battery minder, my 4-year-old batteries have plenty of range, about the same as when they were new.

[Polar Bear]

My personal preference would be for the majority to switch back to electric in order to alleviate the gas fumes, especially those that linger in the tunnels, because not only do they smell awful, but I think they are also a serious health hazard...


I've yet to notice gas fumes, either in tunnels or in my garage or anywhere else.

[2BNTV]

My personal preference would be for the majority to switch back to electric in order to alleviate the gas fumes, especially those that linger in the tunnels, because not only do they smell awful, but I think they are also a serious health hazard. Since using a battery minder, my 4-year-old batteries have plenty of range, about the same as when they were new.

I always try to hold my breath when going through a tunnel, due to the gas fumes. I don't want to breath, that junk in.

I have only been here for a year and a half but it seems that with TV getting physically bigger, gas seems to be the preference. I guess the golf cart store tries to say that the new models, don't emit, many fumes. Electric seems to be getting to be the exception, rather than the rule.

Having a sensitive nose and never having smoked, I find the type of fumes to be unpleasant, to be around. If I am behind a gas cart, I will slow down to an appropriate distance, to start breathing fresh air. I make it my business to avoid cigarette smoke and GOD forbid, cigar smoke. ARRRRRGGGGGGG!!!!!!

[graciegirl]

We have one of each.

Calls for assistance because it stopped.

Gas 0
Electric 2

[Walter123]

I replaced the cart with gas. No more worries as I get 200+ miles on a tank and with my bluetooth headset on the noise is minimal. It is all personal preferance.

It is very dangerous and illegal to use headphones or ear buds while operating a motor vehicle. Please drive safely and be aware of your surroundings.

[Walter123]

I've yet to notice gas fumes, either in tunnels or in my garage or anywhere else.

Really? Unless you have a nose problem or stay inside I can't imagine not smelling the emissions from gas carts.

[Walter123]

I always try to hold my breath when going through a tunnel, due to the gas fumes. I don't want to breath, that junk in.

I have only been here for a year and a half but it seems that with TV getting physically bigger, gas seems to be the preference. I guess the golf cart store tries to say that the new models, don't emit, many fumes. Electric seems to be getting to be the exception, rather than the rule.

Having a sensitive nose and never having smoked, I find the type of fumes to be unpleasant, to be around. If I am behind a gas cart, I will slow down to an appropriate distance, to start breathing fresh air. I make it my business to avoid cigarette smoke and GOD forbid, cigar smoke. ARRRRRGGGGGGG!!!!!!

Ditto.

[graciegirl]

The high season seems to have begun earlier this year and streets and cart paths are congested. Please all of you, drive very carefully and defensively as there are those who are new to our paths and to golf cart driving. Keep in mind that there have been 13 deaths due to golf cart accidents in the last four years. While visiting a friend in rehab yesterday, we learned his roommate had been in rehab three months due to a tipped over golfcart on an incline.

Gas or Electric, they aren't toys. Don't let young grands drive them without your presence.

I want to have you all here come the end of March.

[Walter123]

We have one of each.

Calls for assistance because it stopped.

Gas 0
Electric 2

Were the electric breakdowns because of a malfunction or did you try to go too far on a charge?

[Bay Kid]

Gas is easy and reliable.

[George Bieniaszek]

We have one of each, a 2010 EZGO RXV electric and a 2014 Yamaha Gas. Love the EZGO for the quiet drive and dependability. It has the 4/12 volt battery configuration and when the batteries need replacement, I will convert to the 6/8 volt system for the added range. I also have the BatteryMINDer which I feel has added to the life of the batteries and would recommend it to anyone with an electric cart.

We bought the Yamaha gas for the added range and not worrying about running out of power. My wife and I love to go out and explore The Villages and love the fact that we have a 200+ mile range.

I have 12,000 miles on the EZGO and 1,000 on the Yamaha (purchased in July).

As far as noise and smell, we have not noticed any smell from the gas, driving or parked in the garage. OK maybe the people driving behind us get a whiff, but not extreme even in the tunnels. The Yamaha is a bit noisy when accelerating but at cruise speed, not bad at all.

Nice thing about the EZGO is the automatic brake feature while golfing. The cart locks the brakes in 2 seconds after stopping so you don't have to manually depress the parking brake when you stop at each hole.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Guess we need a Hybrid cart for the Villages

[George Bieniaszek]

Guess we need a Hybrid cart for the Villages

EZGO has made a hybrid cart. It was (is) an electric with a small gas generator in back to charge the batteries as you drive or are parked. Don't know if they still sell them.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

We've got a Yamaha dealer with two, now three very convenient locations within The Villages. Yamaha makes and promotes the best gas golf cart on the market. They have done a great job convincing a lot of people that that is the way to go. I think that a lot of people were won over when EFI was introduced. It made the cart much quieter and made it appear to run much cleaner. The fact that you could get more miles was attractive to some people even though that's not necessarily the case anymore. If you go into one of these Yamaha dealers the sales people will tell you that 90% of the carts they sell are gas. They will say that they also sell electric, but then they will extoll the virtues of gas and especially the new EFI models.

There are plus and minuses to both gas and electric and people are going to make a choice based on their needs, wants and the effectiveness of advertising and sales presentations. Right now gas is dominating the market here in the Villages while electric dominates in the golf industry. It is much easier and less expensive to maintain a fleet of electric carts than it is gas. Golf courses are not concerned about having the cart to 50 miles in a day however.

Electric cart manufacturers are responding with new batteries and battery configurations that have electric vehicles going 50+ miles a day. I think that once people see that we'll begin to see a turn around with more electrics being sold.

[Walter123]

[QUOTE=George Bieniaszek;956878]

As far as noise and smell, we have not noticed any smell from the gas, driving or parked in the garage. OK maybe the people driving behind us get a whiff, but not extreme even in the tunnels. The Yamaha is a bit noisy when accelerating but at cruise speed, not bad at all.

Guess it's like smoking cigarettes, it doesn't bother the smoker just the people around them. There should be exhaust fans in the tunnels. Ever notice the love bug concentration is greater around the tunnel entrances and exits? They like the fumes.

[Polar Bear]

Really? Unless you have a nose problem or stay inside I can't imagine not smelling the emissions from gas carts.


No nose problem. Don't stay inside. I'm sure there are emissions. Would never deny that. I just don't notice it as an issue.

[Walter123]

Fair enough.