Dad thinks he wants a new electric golf cart,which one?

[Bay Kid]

Dad thinks he wants a new electric golf cart w/ a Curtis cab. Mom hates the noise of our gas, the smell of gas, wind and cold. Dad looked at the new ezgo carts. The Yamaha dealer only had one electric and weren't too keen on electric. Any help on what to do for them???

[coach]

I like the new 2014 par car eagle. It is called the Eagle P5. Very long range, 16 " radial tires, seat belts and very good looking.

[SouthOfTheBorder]

I like the new 2014 par car eagle. It is called the Eagle P5. Very long range, 16 " radial tires, seat belts and very good looking.

I agree….you should at least take a serious look at Par Car before making a purchase.

Both the new P5 and the P4. Wheel size on both are 13" and with 8-6v batteries, their driving range is the best out there at this time. Drive one and I believe you will be very impressed.

On the downside (from my limited experience), sometimes the dealership can be a little hard to deal with.

Don

[Golfingnut]

EZ GO is top rated on electric. I agree with DAD on the noise and stink of gas. Maintain the batteries properly and you have a much better cart with electric.

[pooh]

Please consider just how easy it will or won't be climbing in and out of a Par Car with 13" wheels. They are great carts, I had one, but the up and down with those larger wheels started taking a toll on the hips.

[rosygail]

We love our EZGO!

[Love2Swim]

We love our EZGO!


Us too!

[Bay Kid]

Dad is now back to leaning towards a Yamaha gas cart.... He is going drive me crazier! At least he is still here driving me!!!!
I am still not sure.
Mom wants quiet. Electric is the best way to go for quiet. I worry 2-3 years down the road about the value of electric. Gas is so much easier to maintain especially with us gone 1/2 year. So confusing!

[Easyrider]

Dad is now back to leaning towards a Yamaha gas cart.... He is going drive me crazier! At least he is still here driving me!!!!
I am still not sure.
Mom wants quiet. Electric is the best way to go for quiet. I worry 2-3 years down the road about the value of electric. Gas is so much easier to maintain especially with us gone 1/2 year. So confusing!

Your concerns are accurate. We visited Mallory Country Club this afternoon for dinner and parked in the cart parking lot to the right of the entrance.

We could not believe that every single parking space had rust stains from battery acid that had dripped from electric carts parked there. Battery acid and hydrogen gas sure doesn't smell too good..

Visit Mallory and check it out for yourself and see if you want those kinds of stains on your garage floor and your concrete driveway if you should park your cart outside...and maybe from just driving across the driveway.


Exploding batteries[edit]

Any lead-acid battery system when overcharged (>14.34 V) will produce hydrogen gas (gassing voltage) by electrolysis of water. If the rate of overcharge is small, the vents of each cell allow the dissipation of the gas. However, on severe overcharge or if ventilation is inadequate, or the battery is faulty, a flammable concentration of hydrogen may remain in the cell or in the battery enclosure. An internal spark can cause a hydrogen and oxygen explosion, which will damage the battery and its surroundings and which will disperse acid into the surroundings. Anyone close to the battery may be injured.
Sometimes the ends of a battery will be severely swollen, and when accompanied by the case being too hot to touch, this usually indicates a malfunction in the charging system of the car. Reversing the positive and negative leads will damage the battery. When severely overcharged, a lead-acid battery produces high levels of hydrogen and the venting system built into the battery cannot handle the high level of gas, so the pressure builds inside the battery, resulting in the swollen ends. An unregulated alternator can quickly ruin a battery by excessive voltage. A swollen, hot battery is dangerous.
Another potential cause of explosion is when the battery terminals are short-circuited via a very low resistance path (like a wrench or other tool dropped or lying across the terminals). Apart from the sparks which usually occur in a short circuit, heating due to the internal resistance of the battery can cause the electrolyte to boil, also leading to explosion due to buildup of water vapor pressure (unrelated to electrolysis).

[villagerjack]

Had electrics for 15 years. Never had these problems. Who is going to drop a wrench on their battery terminal. Their are cart rugs available to catch any leakage of acid whic has been minimal. Sounds like scare tactics to me.

[jimbo2012]

We could not believe that every single parking space had rust stains from battery acid that had dripped from electric carts parked there. Battery acid and hydrogen gas sure doesn't smell too good.


You can't get rust stains from an Club Car, they don't have steel, all aluminum.
So that is statement is incorrect.

Further gas carts also have a battery

Gas carts have had leaking fuel tank recalls search Google

Batteries exploding what one in a million....

Had electrics for 15 years. Never had these problems. Sounds like scare tactics to me.

Agree, Easyrider loves gas carts all his posts are like that, others like myself like Elec, we all make different choices.

Just make an informed decision. Hold your breath when driving thru tunnels :doh:

[Paulz]

EZGO electric is the way to go. AC motor, the motor being you break and parking break. Take it and any other car over the 441 bridge, half way up take your foot off the pedal. EZGO stops, holds position and then will accelerate back up to 20mph.

The 6/8 config will get you 50/55 per charge.

[Rickg]

I have electric up north and here. They are just as safe and dependable as gas. It is a personal preference. I like electric for the quietness mostly

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I worked in the golf business for 35 years. A big part of my job was managing golf cart fleets. I can tell you that Club Car has the largest market share of all the electrics. The aluminum frame is a big part of that reason, but they are also the most dependable and the least expensive to maintain.

All the rest are a poor second. I investigated buying a new cart when I got here and like a lot of us was impressed by a lot of the carts I had seen around.

I first looked a GEM. Then I found out that not only do they need to be registered and insured, but they have a range of only 25 miles. I was also impressed by Columbia Par Car until I talked to several people including owners and golf cart repair people. I was told that parts are very difficult to get, even for the dealership and that carts that broke down were at times out of commission for long periods of time. True, they did get eighty miles on one charge, but that was a publicity stunt that was run under very controlled, optimum conditions. Fifty miles is probably more realistic.

Yamaha makes probably the best gas cart. EZ-Go was for a long time the leader in electrics before Club Car ran over them about 25 years ago. I have heard of some people having major problems with the newest EX-Go models. I haven't had any person experience but I've heard about problems and have read several posts on this forum about troubles with new EZ-Gos.

Now, people who have owned some of the carts that I've said negative things about and never had a problem will tell you how great they are. The fact is that all new electric carts are great. It's when you have a problem with them or when they get older that the differences show.

After looking at several new carts, I decided to keep my 2002 Club Car which still runs great.

[George Bieniaszek]

We have an 2010 EZGO RXV electric. Love the cart. Over 8,000 trouble free miles.

[Easyrider]

Had electrics for 15 years. Never had these problems. Who is going to drop a wrench on their battery terminal. Their are cart rugs available to catch any leakage of acid whic has been minimal. Sounds like scare tactics to me.

No one ever had these problems until the first time it happens. One explosion is too many and it's not scare tactics at all as many do have accidents with tools, and overfilling batteries. Just needs to be fair and balanced as they say, never saw one electric cart owner ever mention or acknowledge this as a problem for electric carts nor mention you need a blanket to catch the battery acid..there are no rugs in driveways.
I actually like them both for different reasons. Not a cheerleader for either but don't want to see my gas cart which I like bashed when what is being said is totally incorrect.

:gc:

[Easyrider]

[quote=jimbo2012;770845]You can't get rust stains from an Club Car, they don't have steel, all aluminum.
So that is statement is incorrect.

IT IS CORRECT, the stains come from the excess battery acid dropping onto the concrete not rust from the cart. Drive over to Mallory and take a look for yourself.

www.theruststore.com/Battery-Acid-Stains-on-Concrete-W57C36.aspx

Stains left from battery acid on concrete, brick, driveways, and sidewalks, will look like a rust stain (reddish-orange in color), but in fact they are burns caused by the acid in the battery.

Most strong acids like battery acid will actually discolor (or “burn”) the concrete when not neutralized within a short time of the spill. These sorts of stains tend to look like brown-orange, puddle-shaped areas on the driveway. The stain is often quite deep, and no products on the market today will satisfactorily remove this orange stain once it been on the cement for an extended amount of time. Too often, pressure washers are used to blast the surface clean when attempting to remove rust stains, which amounts to peeling off a deep layer of the concrete to expose a surface that is less stained. This is not doing the customer any favors they would probably prefer the rust stain!

Further gas carts also have a battery

Gas carts have a single battery that doesn't have to be refilled and charged over and over and over which cause the spills and boil overs.

Gas carts have had leaking fuel tank recalls search Google

Possibly could happen, one in a million, ha ha

Batteries exploding what one in a million....

If you are that one it really won't matter about the others.



Agree, Easyrider loves gas carts all his posts are like that, others like myself like Elec, we all make different choices.

I'm not trying to sell anything so I can be totally objective as I have nothing to gain.

Just make an informed decision. Hold your breath when driving thru tunnels :doh:

[/Really, if this is the only problem it isn't much...as opposed to wondering if I will make it back home quote]

[jimbo2012]

[quote=jimbo2012;770845]You can't get rust stains from an Club Car, they don't have steel, all aluminum.
So that is statement is incorrect.

IT IS CORRECT,

well not really, rust is one thing battery acid is another.
I think you may have meant it looks like a rust stain.


but as you said "Stains left from battery acid on concrete, brick, driveways, and sidewalks, will look like a rust stain (reddish-orange in color), but in fact they are burns caused by the acid in the battery. "

Rust is composed of iron oxides, not present in a battery

bottom line is such a stain shouldn't happen and in likely does not to normally maintained cart.

But if it did Pour chlorine bleach into a spray bottle. Spray affected area until completely covered and let it set for a five minutes. Scrub battery acid stains with a hard bristle brush. If the stain remains, spray on another application of bleach and let it set longer.

No more stain, this is not a reason not buy a elec cart IMO.

HOw about the gas that goes on the ground when you fill up your cart or on the under Carrier, nothing is perfect.

Further gas carts also have a battery

Gas carts have a single battery that doesn't have to be refilled and charged over and over and over which cause the spills and boil overs.

Sure they do as well as car batteries, it happens.

the only problem it isn't much...as opposed to wondering if I will make it back home

You made that statement before, there is the same risk gar or elec, if you don't look at the gas gauge in a gas cart or the battery gauge in an elec.

The % of charge will tell you how many miles to go on an elec as a gas gauge.

One last point "what about your carbon footprint"

Elec wins hands down, much better greener than gas.

[Easyrider]

[QUOTE=jimbo2012;771113
bottom line is such a stain shouldn't happen and in likely does not to normally maintained cart.

But if it did Pour chlorine bleach into a spray bottle. Spray affected area until completely covered and let it set for a five minutes. Scrub battery acid stains with a hard bristle brush. If the stain remains, spray on another application of bleach and let it set longer.]

Apparently there are not many normally maintained electric carts in the Villages from all the acid burns in the concrete at Mallory....every parking spot...

Might need to invest in a haz. mat. suit too....if you plan on cleaning the stains..chlorine bleach on battery acid, followed by muriatic acid, and then baking soda..

How do you capture and where do you dispose of the water used to rinse all this off?

How to Remove Battery Acid Stains from Concrete?
Answer
Battery acid stains on concrete can be removed by; wear protective gloves, remove or sweep all dirt. Spray the area with chlorine bleach, scrub the area and remove the water using a pipe. Add muriatic acid; pour baking soda over the treated area to kill the chlorine. Take the dirty water to the appropriate place.

[tab04]

I have a 2008 GEM with hard doors and heater defroster which makes it perfect for the Villages in the cooler winter months. The doors come off for the Summer heat. The batteries are the original from 2008 and have over 6000 miles on them. It has gel batteries that do not leak and I get over 24 safe miles on 80% capacity. I would now go for the optional nine (9) 8volt battery conversion to get double the range if buying new or down the road for replacement. The dealer comes every month to the GEM CLUB meeting here in the Villages and gives great support to the owners.

I travel from St James to the VA Mulberry Clinic and back charge for four hours and go out to a Square that night with a side trip to the mailbox. I highly recommend the GEM to anyone but caution that you have to remember to keep it plugged in if you have a bad memory you should buy gas. You can leave it unattended for up to 6 months plugged in and its ready to go when your back in the Villages.

[genobambino]

Easyrider sounds like a salesman at the Yamaha store. I have a 2012 EZGO with that A/C electric motor and 8 6 volt batteries, it never slows up even when the batteries get a little low, like the other electrics. We have driven from one end of The Villages to the other and back and still had plenty of battery left. Look under the front end of some of these carts and compare the front suspension, the EZGO is at least twice as heavy duty...just look for yourself.. I also have a Club Car gas, I couldn't believe the difference. I'm seriously thinking of selling my Club Car and getting another electric EZGO.

[genobambino]

Electric is the future, just look at all the automobiles on the street. I hold my breath every time I go in a tunnel so I don't have to breath the noxious gas fumes.

[Peachie]

Electric is the future, just look at all the automobiles on the street. I hold my breath every time I go in a tunnel so I don't have to breath the noxious gas fumes.

What do you do about all of the pollution caused by coal trains and the noise they create?

Do yourself a favor and google coal train facts or something similar and you will be able to educate yourself on the noxious air you are more than likely breathing constantly and the noise levels created so that electric may be produced.

If your electricity isn't coming directly from the sun or wind or water, it's most likely adding to air and noise pollution so a little smell in a tunnel is nothing compared to the elephant in the room.

Probably the best evaluator for your Dad to select a cart, Bay Kid, is his age. If your Dad is in his very early seventies or younger, electric may be fine. If your Dad is 74 or older, go gas, IMHO. You will not have to worry about Dad or Mom making mistakes in the maintenance of an electric due to memory issues and believe me, this issue will appear. You will then have the added responsibility of daily maintenance for their safety.

With a gas cart, daily maintenance is much lower.

[Easyrider]

Easyrider sounds like a salesman at the Yamaha store. I have a 2012 EZGO with that A/C electric motor and 8 6 volt batteries, it never slows up even when the batteries get a little low, like the other electrics. We have driven from one end of The Villages to the other and back and still had plenty of battery left. Look under the front end of some of these carts and compare the front suspension, the EZGO is at least twice as heavy duty...just look for yourself.. I also have a Club Car gas, I couldn't believe the difference. I'm seriously thinking of selling my Club Car and getting another electric EZGO.

I am not selling anything and that's the point. Got to try to counter all those trying to sell electric to the unwary for whatever reason. Doesn't matter to me what anyone uses but it is amusing watching some claim electric is better than gas because they have an electric and want to believe they made the better choice. Gas carts outnumber electric many times over in the Villages and that pretty much says it all..

[Easyrider]

Electric is the future, just look at all the automobiles on the street. I hold my breath every time I go in a tunnel so I don't have to breath the noxious gas fumes.

:1rotfl:

So just how many totally all electric cars are out there on the street? Just why do all those hybrids also have a gas engine? So they can get home when the electric runs out or quits...

[jimbo2012]

Gas carts outnumber electric many times over in the Villages and that pretty much says it all..

You may want to check your facts on that, more like 40% elec.

Perhaps since their so quiet you don't know they are there :clap2:



How to Remove Battery Acid Stains from Concrete?
Answer
Battery acid stains on concrete can be removed by; wear protective gloves, remove or sweep all dirt. Spray the area with chlorine bleach, scrub the area and remove the water using a pipe. Add muriatic acid; pour baking soda over the treated area to kill the chlorine. Take the dirty water to the appropriate place.[/B]

you have to be kidding right?

Any alleged battery acid is tiny droplets at most, stop exaggerating things you have little knowledge of please.

There is more chlorine in a pool than you're taking about......

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I am not selling anything and that's the point. Got to try to counter all those trying to sell electric to the unwary for whatever reason. Doesn't matter to me what anyone uses but it is amusing watching some claim electric is better than gas because they have an electric and want to believe they made the better choice. Gas carts outnumber electric many times over in the Villages and that pretty much says it all..

Not from what I see. I see at least as many electrics as gas in the Villages. The Villages Golf Cart Store will tell that they sell far more gas than electrics. That is not surprising because Yamaha makes the best gas cart by far. That combined with the fact that The Villages Golf Cart Store has three prime locations in the Villages and is rumored to have some kind of deal with the developer would account for so many gas carts. Even with the odds stacked against them, there are still a lot of electric carts here.

By the way, how did a thread about which ELECTRIC cart to buy degenerate into a thread about which is better, gas or electric?

Why is it that people that own and like gas feel the need to foist their opinion on everyone else?

[Peachie]

Not from what I see. I see at least as many electrics as gas in the Villages. The Villages Golf Cart Store will tell that they sell far more gas than electrics. That is not surprising because Yamaha makes the best gas cart by far. That combined with the fact that The Villages Golf Cart Store has three prime locations in the Villages and is rumored to have some kind of deal with the developer would account for so many gas carts. Even with the odds stacked against them, there are still a lot of electric carts here.

By the way, how did a thread about which ELECTRIC cart to buy degenerate into a thread about which is better, gas or electric?

Why is it that people that own and like gas feel the need to foist their opinion on everyone else?

Ah, Winston, if you read post #8, you will see the OP's father changed his mind and wants a gas cart now, you may want to read the entire thread. There is a newer thread on here now about someone's issues with their used gas golf cart and none other than Golfingnut is telling the OP that his problem was buying a gas cart. Now that may be foisting....

So any help you can provide the OP's father with selecting a gas golf cart may be really appreciated.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Two things I don't get here. I keep hearing people say that gas carts are more difficult to maintain. One of the primary reasons that electrics are preferred by so many golf courses, and many hilly courses were relieved when Club Car first made a cart that would go multiple rounds and they could finally get rid of their gas carts, is that they are much less expensive to maintain. They have fewer moving parts and require less service.

Again, I'm not talking about brand new carts. You probably won't see any kind of maintenance expenses in the first coupe of years with any vehicle.

The second thing I keep hearing is the danger of electric cart batteries. I can't believe that anyone thinks that batteries posed more of a danger than a plastic tank full of gasoline and another full of motor oil.

[Easyrider]

You may want to check your facts on that, more like 40% elec.

Perhaps since their so quiet you don't know they are there

Kinda like a tree falling in the forest, who knew :1rotfl:



you have to be kidding right?

Any alleged battery acid is tiny droplets at most, stop exaggerating things you have little knowledge of please.

There is more chlorine in a pool than you're taking about......

Not being able to realize what we don't know is a dangerous thing. Take a look at the parking spots at Mallory Country Club and see all the battery acid stains/burns for yourself and decide if you want that on your driveway and garage floor..

:MOJE_whot:



...

[Easyrider]

Why is it that people that own and like gas feel the need to foist their opinion on everyone else?

Because those that own and like electric feel the need to bash gas carts and foist their opinions on everyone else I would say..

I don't even comment until a negative appears about a gas cart, read post 4 and seed for yourself.. I don't care which one anyone owns, if all the pros and cons of both are presented equally then there would be little or no discussion.

Dangers of Carts Off-Gassing Hydrogen while charging barreries, Survey Done In The Villages Fl. Important to read Page 28 in this link, How many Follow these guidelines?

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&cad=rja&ved=0CEsQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usfa.fema.gov%2Fpdf%2Fefop%2F efo27803.pdf&ei=8adyUuLMNaKb2wWo_4DQAw&usg=AFQjCNEnTjJtoVd8Yjfkk6VJZjoNU2dSRw


I have a gas I like, I do like electric too but it would never work for me as I go long distances and don't have time to recharge. Gets a little irritating hearing over and over how noisy and stinky gas carts are when I own one and it simply is not true. Gas carts have their problems but electric carts certainly have their share too.

And also I am not pushing a point to try and sell anything.

:D

[jimbo2012]

Gets a little irritating hearing over and over how noisy and stinky gas carts are when I own one and it simply is not true.

Can't believe you're saying that, does the engine emit a smell, U can't deny that.

Does the engine make noise, U can't deny that.

they do smell & make noise, case closed.......:blahblahblah: Elec carts don't smell or make noise.

[Easyrider]

Can't believe you're saying that, does the engine emit a smell, U can't deny that.

Does the engine make noise, U can't deny that.

they do smell & make noise, case closed.......:blahblahblah: Elec carts don't smell or make noise.

Guess we are just not quite as delicate as some and the purr of a gas engine which some call noise doesn't bother us. For sure the sounds and exhausts of a car or truck engine must drive some crazy if a golf cart bothers them. Guess these people have never driven in city traffic, too smelly and noisy.

You know we played a round of golf today at Yankee Clipper and we all noticed all the acid burns/stains on the concrete there too just like the parking lot at Mallory. At every hole where the electric carts have stopped and dripped battery acid there are big battery acid stains/burns on the concrete. Maybe there should be an electric cart fee to pay for cleaning these stains off the cart paths and parking lots.

Feel free to check every course for the very same thing.

At least gas carts don't leave a trail of battery acid and battery acid stains/burns on all the concrete everywhere they go.

You cannot deny that either because it is at every parking lot and golf course for all to see anytime they want.

Did I mention I am not trying to sell anything for gas carts . Now the case is closed...

:cryin2: