Yes! Another Golf Cart Question:
 

Evolution carts. Seem to get more for the money. What's the catch, if any? Rougher ride, cheap parts, etc..? Yamaha looks nice, as do others with lithium batteries. But $14,000 for an adult toy? Too much. Real life opinion please.

I own an Evolution cart, for a couple of reasons: 1) They were available, everything else was a 6 month wait and 2) It was electric and price. The cost was about $6k cheaper than the one I wanted to order and it had more on it.

It is like riding a sports car from a suspension perspective, but its not harsh, as I've heard others describe it. I did have it in the shop once because it stopped charging, but other than the inconvenience of not having it for a couple of day, it was fine.

While its nice to have a radio, the reception is not very good. The sound itself is poor but spending a few bucks on some replacement speakers has addressed that. I disconnected the rumbler, which is something that is required someplace, no here, when it is travelling less than 18 MPH.

I've stretched it's legs, meaning I've taken it on long rides and tested the range going 60+ miles with 25% charge left before charging it.

It gets me around the only regret I have with it so far is that it is set at 20MPH for a top speed. I'd like to dial it up to at least 24, but can't do it without voiding the warranty, so I'll wait a couple of years.

Drive one, they ride like crap.

How is an electric cart set to go faster than 20 MPH? I have an electric Yamaha with a top speed of 20 MPH on flat land and would like it to go 24 MPH too.

because you can get street legal

Put larger wheels on your cart. For example, 10” wheels should give you an additional 3 mph, as well as a smoother ride.

They're made in China and I've heard that the ride is awful.

There's a reason that the price is low. Evolutions are new to the market and we don't know about reliability or parts availability. EX Go has been around for decades and are a well known brand that are made in Augusta Georgia.

EZ Go Elite start at around $15,000 and well equipped are about $19-$20.

On the plus side, you get a lot more features for the money and Evolutions are available right now. But again, there are reasons for that.

I made a choice to pay a bit more and go with a known quantity.

I wouldn't refer to my golf cart as an adult toy. It is a means of transportation that I use more than my car, especially with the current price of gasoline.

For a taller person, the accelerator is not far enough away and can not even come close to stretching my right leg. Look at the tires. They are low profile. Have never seen any car that rides smoothly with low profile tires. Brake pedal not easy to use. Compare it to the EZ GO. My opinion is that the EZ GO has best brake pedal in all golf carts.

You pay for what you get.

And with those stupid doors, there is no place to hang out your left knee! Talk about being confined.

Yamamamahas and many (not all) other brands can't be SL any longer no matter what the speed might be unless you have been grandfathered in. FL has changed equipment requirements (like requiring a DOT rated windshield for example) among other things to go LSV. As for speed changes, many electrics can be programmed through their controllers and some even have a physical switch. Newer gas models while possible to speed up likely need bigger tires and/or mechanical changes but still can't be made LSV (SL) without major upgrades.

Twenty MPH is the legal speed. An electric golf cart, there are kits that will get it up to over 30 mph. Besides annoying others what do you save by going faster. Get to beat others to the next stop sign or intersection?

I have the Evolution 10” wheels, top speed 25. I’m 6’1” and find it comfortable.

We have an Evolution for the same reasons others mentioned: price, immediate availability, and we were able to get a four-seater for much less than a two- seater of other brands. We wanted all electric and the range of the battery is very good (65-70 miles on a charge).

It’s our first cart so we don’t have anything to compare to but we like it fine. We do get a good range on a charge and, although it isn’t like riding in a fine automobile, it doesn’t seem to be uncomfortable to us. We don’t think of it as a toy, but still didn’t want to pay a price tag as high as buying a second car.

We don’t know how it will endure over the long term compared to other carts. Only time will tell, but we are satisfied for now.

johnny's first post

has not been back to see responses.

:posting:

And you ("generic" you) NEVER drive over 70MPH on the FL Tpk or US 75 or exceed the limit on any other local road? What's with this "legal obsession" of many of exceeding 20MPH in a lawnmower, I mean GC. Driving 24 in a GC is a hellava lot safer than 75 -90 on the highways. NO ONE ever exceeds ANY speed limits? Roads or GC's ?? Anyone who says they don't (in a car) is a liar or worse, a "left lane Louie" .

Can you post theses new regulations. Currently the State of Florida website says windshield, nothing about DOT.

Low Speed and All-Terrain Vehicles - Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

Hell to the yes x 2. There are freaking E-bikes going 25 in the damn golf cart lane. Rules are for the tourists :bigbow:

Here’s the answer to ALL golf cart questions.

The people who have electric LOVE electric HATE gas
The people who have gas LOVE gas and HATE electric

we LOVE the brand we own and don’t like other brands.

Correct, a windshield as defined by the State of FL. When we had ours trailered to Ocala 3+ yrs ago for the required inspection we were told our E4 windhield was OK since it was an imported vehicle. E4 (they said) was a proper imported designation for a Federally accepted laminated type of glass and we were referred to this:

Florida definition of "windshield":
316.2952 Windshields; requirements; restrictions.—
(1) A windshield in a fixed and upright position, which windshield is equipped with safety glazing as required by federal safety-glazing material standards, is required on every motor vehicle which is operated on the public highways, roads, and streets, except on a motorcycle or implement of husbandry.

After all of that, we eventually had ours "deactivated" as an LSV because insurance was obscene. It was good for about 3 1/2 years ago but not worth the additional expense any more PLUS most insurers won't insure a LSV and then if they would you had to insure your regular vehicle with them as well and the ones that would insure the LSV AND REG VEHICLE were almost 50% more on the regular car. I pay $850 for 1 2020 vehicle now with full coverage but the companies who would do both the LSV & Car wanted to $2500.- $3000.

EDIT: I also THOUGHT wipers were now required but haven't read that specified OFFICIALLY anywhere although we do have wipers.

(UNOFFICIAL)LSV Safety Equipment(UNOFFICIAL)
All LSVs must be equipped with the following safety equipment:

Windshield
Windshield wipers
Exterior mirrors (driver side and an interior rear view or passenger side)
Headlights
Parking brake
Front and rear turn signals
Tail lights and brake lights
Reflectors
Horn
Seat belt for each designated seat

They are made in China & if you buy you’ll get your answer in about 18 months. I know 2 people who have bought them & they both indicated they wish they had waited.

I just saw an ad for an evolution 4 seat cart with far too many gadgets listed at $16995.00

Alexa auto
 

If your house is running with alexa, an evolution cart will connect to alexa auto allowing all the alexa commands to be controlled from your cart.

Wish Yamaha would come out with a new body design , new models look old now .

Seats
 

We decided against Evolution because I found the seats to be very uncomfortable - no lumbar support. Evolution wasn’t customizable either. I did like the price though.

They are also messing up the turf on the golf courses. Because of their low clearance, I saw one scrape off a long piece of sod going over a hill. A regular cart has bigger wheels therefore more clearance when negotiating the small hills on golf courses.

Question for GPA VADER
 

?? What is a rumbler / How did you turn it off.

What about hearing from Evolution cart owners that play golf and have to open and close doors every time they get in and out of the cart? I would think that would be a deterrent from buying one if you were an avid golfer.

Evolution
 

You understand where they're from,
right? Are you comfortable with that?

Not buying from China if I can help it, anyway, I bought an electric golf cart seven years ago for $8000 and it sounds like I got a great deal.

Like an RC car, the cart has a digital speed controller that can be adjusted with either software or in some cases, they actually have a mechanical adjustment for the speed.

As to why I want or need to go faster, sometimes I can't get around someone that isn't going 20mph and having the extra speed will help.

There must be a reason why EZGO carts are the best-selling in the country. They’re the most popular with golf courses. There must be a reason.

I’ve had EZGO carts for over 25 years, wouldn’t have another brand.

I think it's a CA law that any electric vehicle has to make some kind of sound so that people can't sneak up on other people. While test driving other brands none of them had it, just the Evolution. Like your back up beeper, its a device that plugs into the controller and when the cart is driving at 18mph or less it makes a sound. I located the device that makes the sound and unplugged it. They have a FB group with all kinds of tips about the cart.

I have 5 reasons why I would not buy one of those.
1- They are made 100% in China.
2- They are completely made in China!
3- They are manufactured in China.
4- They are 100% made in China.
5- They are made in China. Yes the dealer will tell you that they are assembled in Orlando or Ocala, big deal, they put the wheels on and the roof with enclosure and say that final assembly was in USA, BS!
6- for your information, the Star cart that the Villages sells are 100% Chinese as well, Star is the largest EV manufacturer in that world domination Communist state.

EdfNJ you are from NJ? I believe the term we use is “LLD”

Left Lane Loser, not Louiie

Fact: If you own a golf car that is capable of going over 20mph and is not registered as a LSV, you have an unregistered motor vehicle. If somebody crashes into you and the cops are called, you will get a ticket for operating an unregistered motor vehicle. Prepare for your court date on a felony charge and get ready to pay around $255, plus the expense of having your cart set back to 20mph. There is a reason for limiting carts to 20mph. Above that, they are unstable, and much more likely to flip over during an emergency situation. They are designed to carry your bag around a golf course.

Fact, Fact:
"every cart" is capable of going over 20mph, it just depends on how it's set & I DON'T have an unregistered MV.

Felony????

:shocked:

Question: Do you shop at Walmart, Target, Lowes, or Home Depot? :boxing2:

We all do, but not for vehicles.

:coolsmiley: