Distance

[oldnewt]

As I previously posted we will be closing on our CYV in Tamarind Grove April 20th. I know there has been alot of discussion on the pros and cons of gas versus electric golf carts. However, looking at the distance from LAL and Tamarind Grove it appears to me that we will need to get a gas cart. I would apprieciate any input from those already living in Tamarind Grove, St. Charles, Buttenwood or other areas nearby. :smiley:

[Bill-n-Brillo]

newt - I think what you'll find is that everyone's going to have their own preference and a variety of reasons to support it. Some will tout the things that favor gas over electric............and visa versa. There have been a variety of threads covering this topic over time - a Search should yield some of them.

Ultimately, you'll need to do what it is that YOU feel comfortable with! :)

Bill

[katezbox]

Newt...

Pros and Cons


Electric (which, in the spirit of full disclosure, we own)..

Quieter
No smell
Easier on my asthma for the no smell
about 50 miles per charge int he daylight


Gas
Noisier
Smellier
Some of the smell MAY be mitigated with premium fuel
Less worry about distance


I think that from TG to LSL you would have no worries with an electric, but if you were to go from TG to Lopez, play 18, then to LSL and then back to TG (with lights on) it might be tight.

k

[nkrifats]

Newt,
It is going to be a matter of what you are comfortable with. I chose a Gas cart as I use my cart like a second car. I travel everywhere with it and at times when I am down for a week with no car. I use the cart to get everywhere. I just feel more comfortable with the Gas Cart.

[SALYBOW]

We have one of each. We rearely use our electric anymore and we were staunch electric cart fans. One day hubby golf early and I golfed right after him. I was falshing on "empty" when I cruised in the garage. Stressfull.:grumpy:

[memason]

Newt,
We have one of each...2011 Yamaha Gas and a Columbia Par Car Electric. I've had the gas for 4 months; the electric for 1 week.

In a word, the difference is "complexity". For the gas cart, all we do is keep gas in it and drive...no fuss, no muss...period.

For the electric, you need to keep it charged (overnight; every night); keep water in the batteries; consider the distance you will drive and whether you will need lights of not.

I love the electric....it's quite, smooth and I can listen to the radio without blasting it too loudly. We live in St. Charles and going to either square and returning [at night, with lights on and the radio blasting] is no problem for the Par Car.

The longest trip, so far, is St. Charles to Havana (18 holes) --> back to St. Charles --> St. Charles to Walmart --> Walmart to LSL via 466 trail and over the Morse bridge--> Dinner, Drinking and Dancing --> LSL to St. Charles (after dark). Still had battery left...no problem. This week, we will drive it to Lopez, play 18, go to dinner and drive it home after dark...that will be the test. I should add, the batteries are 10 months old, so relatively new.

As for the gas cart, I have no idea how far we've driven in one trip. When we just want to explore, we take the gas cart and have no worries about range.

Bottomline: If I could only have one cart, it would definitely be a gas cart.

[Hal :-)]

Someone should develop a Hybrid Cart, like the Toyota Prius. Seems like the perfect solution. Unfortunately, TV is probably the only market. This has only become an issue with the overall growth in recent years.

[ajbrown]

Newt,
In a word, the difference is "complexity". For the gas cart, all we do is keep gas in it and drive...no fuss, no muss...period.

For the electric, you need to keep it charged (overnight; every night); keep water in the batteries; consider the distance you will drive and whether you will need lights of not.

<<Message snipped by Alan>>


This makes sense to me. A friend of mine has a gas cart because he does not wish to deal with range issues period. That makes sense for him and I cannot argue his logic. I only own electric carts and "probably" always will, but the batteries require care. If you wish to get electric, you need to understand the battery pack is the golf cart. You need to gain some knowledge in the golf cart forum on TOTV or other forums online about:


How to properly break in a new battery pack.
What is a pack's state of charge? How far should I drive my pack without shortening the life of the pack?
How do I properly maintain batteries?
Does the configuration of the pack matter? You must understand that a Par Car with 8-6v batteries will go MUCH further than a Club Car Precedent with 4-12V batteries.
Alot of accessories, night driving? Do you need a voltage reducer?


None of it is complicated. Each item is important but IMO number two is the most overlooked. Many folks I talk to discharge their pack way too far too often which limits life of pack. When a friend tells you they go 45 miles on a charge, ask how far they discharged the pack, what is the SOC at end of ride.

Range seems important based on your post, so you may be like my friend who went with gas, no worries for range (although he did forget to fill up once when it was his turn to drive :D). Here are some general numbers from my carts over the last three years (your cart may differ):


My Par Car and a Club Car with 8-6v batteries will reliably go 40+ miles.
My "new to me" '02 Club cart with three year old 6-8v batteries will go 26+ miles (new should be closer to 35 miles).

Some quick looks at googlemaps for distances:

Buttonwood to Lopez about 10 miles each way
18 holes of golf is 5-6 miles
Buttonwood to LSL is about 3.5 miles each way
Buttonwood to Spanish Springs is about 7 miles each way

[depalmat]

I just looked up hybrid golf carts and came across a site called Helios solar panels for golf carts. Since Florida is know for sun, solar might be a great idea. What's interesting about this is the cart is always charging, and at night it can be plugged in if needed. Might be worth checking out?

[K9-Lovers]

Newt,
We have one of each...2011 Yamaha Gas and a Columbia Par Car Electric. I've had the gas for 4 months; the electric for 1 week.

In a word, the difference is "complexity". For the gas cart, all we do is keep gas in it and drive...no fuss, no muss...period.

For the electric, you need to keep it charged (overnight; every night); keep water in the batteries; consider the distance you will drive and whether you will need lights of not.

I love the electric....it's quite, smooth and I can listen to the radio without blasting it too loudly. We live in St. Charles and going to either square and returning [at night, with lights on and the radio blasting] is no problem for the Par Car.

As for the gas cart, I have no idea how far we've driven in one trip. When we just want to explore, we take the gas cart and have no worries about range.

Bottomline: If I could only have one cart, it would definitely be a gas cart.

Ditto. We have both electric and gas and like both for different reasons. But, if we had to choose only one it would be gas.

[oldnewt]

Thanks to everyone for your input. :highfive: Since I plan on using the cart as our primary transportation, I believe we will go with a gas cart. :clap2:

[Francie]

I am not yet a resident of TV, but are there any initiatives from the residents for charging stations to be installed at the Rec Centers or other points? With the demand I would think this would be a highly requested service. Certainly, those utilizing would have to pay to refuel, but seems like this would be a natural as the community expands.

[mulligan]

Since the lights affect the range at night, are there any LED headlights available??

[jgbama]

Thanks to everyone for your input. :highfive: Since I plan on using the cart as our primary transportation, I believe we will go with a gas cart. :clap2:

We aren't there yet, but plan to have one of each as I know "my car" will be a golf cart (gas) as another post stated. I've read about every post about golf carts and there are avid fans on both sides. We have riden in both. We did have an electric cart die on us in the parking lot at Mallory. Luckily the neighbor at the house we were renting was the caretaker for the owner. He came and rescued us. So, if you ever rent for a week or more and the owner has an electric, be sure to find out what to do if you get stranded. The problem we experienced wasn't low battery, but something else. I realize you can also have something go wrong with a gas cart too. Anything mechanical is subject to unexpected problems (like our real cars). Always ask who to call if you have any cart problems, gas or electric.

[memason]

Since the lights affect the range at night, are there any LED headlights available??

That's a great question! I have looked and looked for LED headlights, but have not been successful.

I believe LED headlights would increase electric cart range... I have LED tail/brake lights, as well as LED side markers on my Par Car.

[mulligan]

Thanks, me. I will search also, and if I find anything I'll let you know.

[mulligan]

Yo me, I just got this from the DIY chatroom( a very useful site)If you search ebay.com for LED headlights, there are over 20,000 items. You can further subdivide it by putting ATV in your search, then you will get about 40 items. One that looks promising is called "YAMAHA BANSHEE BLASTER GRIZZLY HEADLIGHT LED ATV LIGHT" and you can also search for it by copying that name into the search block...
I haven't had time to look myself yet.

[Schaumburger]

We aren't there yet, but plan to have one of each as I know "my car" will be a golf cart (gas) as another post stated. I've read about every post about golf carts and there are avid fans on both sides. We have riden in both. We did have an electric cart die on us in the parking lot at Mallory. Luckily the neighbor at the house we were renting was the caretaker for the owner. He came and rescued us. So, if you ever rent for a week or more and the owner has an electric, be sure to find out what to do if you get stranded. The problem we experienced wasn't low battery, but something else. I realize you can also have something go wrong with a gas cart too. Anything mechanical is subject to unexpected problems (like our real cars). Always ask who to call if you have any cart problems, gas or electric.

jgbama, thanks for words of advice about asking who to call if you have cart problem as I will be driving a gas cart for the first time in July when I rent in the Village of Chatham. My AAA motor club card probably won't cover golf cart breakdowns. :)

[katezbox]

I am not yet a resident of TV, but are there any initiatives from the residents for charging stations to be installed at the Rec Centers or other points? With the demand I would think this would be a highly requested service. Certainly, those utilizing would have to pay to refuel, but seems like this would be a natural as the community expands.

Francie,

I wondered this as well, but it might mean having to bring your own power connector with you. Much like PCs ans mobile phones, the part that plugs into the cart varies by manufacturer/model.

k

[StarbuckSammy]

Where or what is "LAL" ?

[swrinfla]

Sammy:

I'm pretty sure that LAL should have been posted as LSL, meaning Lake Sumter Landing!

Sadly, lots of posters are a bit sloppy with their postings!

SWR
:beer3:

[Pturner]

Thanks, me. I will search also, and if I find anything I'll let you know.

Yo me, I just got this from the DIY chatroom( a very useful site)If you search ebay.com for LED headlights, there are over 20,000 items. You can further subdivide it by putting ATV in your search, then you will get about 40 items. One that looks promising is called "YAMAHA BANSHEE BLASTER GRIZZLY HEADLIGHT LED ATV LIGHT" and you can also search for it by copying that name into the search block...
I haven't had time to look myself yet.

:a20: :ho:

[laryb]

Where or what is "LAL" ?

"LAL" is right next to "LSL"..... just like "L" is next "S" on your keyboard. Just a fat finger :clap2:

[Francie]

Katzbox - Yeah, I thought of that also. I travel a lot and next to my wallet, my Rx and my cell phone, my cell phone charger cord is right up on the top of my list. The cart charger would be no different.

[NJblue]

I think the range issue for electric is way overblown. We live at the current southern extremity of TV (near 466A) and have traveled to Lopez, golfed and come back at night and still had close to half a charge left. When you think about it, if a cart gives you a 50 mile range and at an average speed of 15 mph, you would have to be in your cart for over 3 hours of constant driving.

Having to follow behind gas carts is one of the more obnoxious parts about golf cart transportation - akin to the old days of eating in restaurants next to a smoker.

[ajbrown]

I think the range issue for electric is way overblown. We live at the current southern extremity of TV (near 466A) and have traveled to Lopez, golfed and come back at night and still had close to half a charge left. When you think about it, if a cart gives you a 50 mile range and at an average speed of 15 mph, you would have to be in your cart for over 3 hours of constant driving.



Sounds like you have a good set of batteries. From my experiences, you may be the exception having a cart that can travel 50 miles. What kind of cart do you drive?

Most carts cannot go 50 miles on a charge. Very few should do so without discharging the batteries too low reducing the life of the battery pack.

[jadlos]

As I previously posted we will be closing on our CYV in Tamarind Grove April 20th. I know there has been alot of discussion on the pros and cons of gas versus electric golf carts. However, looking at the distance from LAL and Tamarind Grove it appears to me that we will need to get a gas cart. I would apprieciate any input from those already living in Tamarind Grove, St. Charles, Buttenwood or other areas nearby. :smiley:

We're moving into Tamarind Grove on June 28th and we just today ordered our new Yamaha Drive Gas Cart from Carts and Clubs in Ocala. We live in Pinehurst, NC now and have used electric carts for the past 20 years (they don't allow gas carts here). Yes, they are quiet and "smell free" but we want the freedom and confidence that a gas cart will provide since we will use it for golf shopping, dining, etc.

[NJblue]

Sounds like you have a good set of batteries. From my experiences, you may be the exception having a cart that can travel 50 miles. What kind of cart do you drive?

Most carts cannot go 50 miles on a charge. Very few should do so without discharging the batteries too low reducing the life of the battery pack.

We have a Star car. It is a street legal version and has a hi/low speed switch which converts it from regular golf cart speed (low) to street legal speed (high). When in hi-speed mode we can not go great distances - but usually quite adequate for our normal driving. If we plan to go longer, we shift it to regular golf cart speed and, as I indicated, it allows us to go from Hemmingway to Lopez and back (at night) with plenty of remaining juice. But our cart was not unique. We did this as part of a neighborhood golf outing and everyone's electric cart made it with no problem.

[l2ridehd]

Most electric carts go 35 to 40 miles on a full charge. However that should be plenty for going from one end of the Villages to the other, playing 18 holes and returning after dark. Electric carts require you to maintain your batteries. Add distilled water and not over fill. Clean the terminals to eliminate the corrosion. Maintain a full charge every day and if your away, have someone who will use and charge once in a while. I have two carts, a gas Yamaha and a Club Car electric. Both have there pro's and con's. If I am going a long way and doing night driving I usually take the gas. To go play 18, have lunch and come home, or just going to the square, take the electric. If I could only have one cart, it would be the gas Yamaha.

[ajbrown]

We have a Star car. It is a street legal version and has a hi/low speed switch which converts it from regular golf cart speed (low) to street legal speed (high). When in hi-speed mode we can not go great distances - but usually quite adequate for our normal driving. If we plan to go longer, we shift it to regular golf cart speed and, as I indicated, it allows us to go from Hemmingway to Lopez and back (at night) with plenty of remaining juice. But our cart was not unique. We did this as part of a neighborhood golf outing and everyone's electric cart made it with no problem.

Thanks. I am a big electric cart fan. I did not mean to imply electric carts could not make that trip, but wanted to caution folks new to the battery world that all carts cannot go 50 miles. The cart I just bought with 3+ year old batteries (6-8 volt pack) will still push 30 miles. I live off of Murphy's Estates in Mallory and recently played Lopez. The odometer said I went 26 miles (a better golfer may only have travelled 24 miles :)).

[katezbox]

. The odometer said I went 26 miles (a better golfer may only have travelled 24 miles :)).

:mademyday:

We have an electric EZGO. Sunday went to Glenview, played 18, back to Bonita with 3/4 full charge. A few months back went to Alhambra gate and back and to Lopez and back in the same day (played 18 at Lopez). No lights involved - about 1/3 of a "tank" remaining.

I am a huge fan of electric carts - no smell, quieter, want to see the technology improve and mildly asthmatic. But, if, like Red and others, you are driving that baby around all day, gas may be the better choice.

k

[jebartle]

you get gel batteries, no fuss, no problem! Cost is about $300 more but will last as much as 8 years!



[QUOTE=ajbrown;341462]This makes sense to me. A friend of mine has a gas cart because he does not wish to deal with range issues period. That makes sense for him and I cannot argue his logic. I only own electric carts and "probably" always will, but the batteries require care. Alot of will

[ajbrown]

you get gel batteries, no fuss, no problem! Cost is about $300 more but will last as much as 8 years!

I did not know Gel batteries were that cheap, so I have never looked into the number of discharge cycles they can perform in a lifetime versus wet.

What batteries you referencing? I am indeed intrigued.

Thanks
Alan

[katezbox]

I did not know Gel batteries were that cheap, so I have never looked into the number of discharge cycles they can perform in a lifetime versus wet.

What batteries you referencing? I am indeed intrigued.

Thanks
Alan

Alan,

I really appreciate your knowledge on this topic and your willingness to share. I especially like that you don't make it a gas vs electric religious discussion, as I think carts are not "one size fits all."

k

[jebartle]

think around $1500....But well worth not having to hassle with them! Not sure if Sam's has Gel or not, you might get them cheaper....Ours cam with Cart, have not had to replace yet....A friend of ours has a 2002 Gem and still has original Gel batteries in cart!


I did not know Gel batteries were that cheap, so I have never looked into the number of discharge cycles they can perform in a lifetime versus wet.

What batteries you referencing? I am indeed intrigued.

Thanks
Alan

[NJblue]

Once again, I'm not convinced about the orthodoxy of electric being a "hassle". Most carts have as an option an "auto-fill" capability which allows you to connect a water tank to a tube which then fills all of the cells automatically. I can fill all of my cells in about 45 seconds. Doing this twice a month takes a minute and a half. Compare that with the time to drive to a gas station and fill your gas tank.

Also, don't gas engines need to be tuned up and have their oil changed?

[ajbrown]

think around $1500....But well worth not having to hassle with them! Not sure if Sam's has Gel or not, you might get them cheaper....Ours cam with Cart, have not had to replace yet....A friend of ours has a 2002 Gem and still has original Gel batteries in cart!

Oh, you have a Gem cart? Unless I am mistaken those are 72 volt (6-12v) packs?? I almost :faint: when I read $1500 :shocked:

My wifes cart will be getting new batteries within a year (6 - 8volt). It sure is confusing trying to understand wet versus AGM versus Gel deep cycle options. Seems AGM is king of technology right now, but most do not feel costs are worth benefit, so I will probably stick with Trojan for around $625.

Your friend having batteries since 2002 is quite amazing. I have read stories of folks using wet deep cycle batteries for more than 10 years. I am happy if I get four years!!

All interesting stuff to me....

[princesspat]

We just got back from a week in TV - so jealous of you guys and can't wait to make the move. We stopped in to browse at Town and Country Golf Carts in Spanish Springs. The guy there was very high on a 2011 RXV electric. He said that because it was AC Drive it would go 70 miles between charges, batteries were warrantied for 4 years, no loss of power going up hills, etc. He made it seem like this was the best of worlds between a gas and an electric. Too good to be true?

[ajbrown]

We just got back from a week in TV - so jealous of you guys and can't wait to make the move. We stopped in to browse at Town and Country Golf Carts in Spanish Springs. The guy there was very high on a 2011 RXV electric. He said that because it was AC Drive it would go 70 miles between charges, batteries were warrantied for 4 years, no loss of power going up hills, etc. He made it seem like this was the best of worlds between a gas and an electric. Too good to be true?

I know he got one of three right. It really does do great up hills.....

Be careful with the others..... Just my opinion....