Solar Golf Car makes US Debut at CES 2024 in Las Vegas
 

States a 62 mile range. If you're using it on the golf course, in the sun, wouldn't the batteries keep charging as your driving, thus extending that mile range?

I'll bet 55% to 45% negative over positive posts!:icon_wink:

I like it!….the design is very nice and functional, plus it’s not made in China.
Wish it were available now to check out!

So do I.
There is however a big lobby on TOTV, that have an aversion to anything mobile powered by a battery!

Seems 62 miles of driving very reasonable but the naysayers will want 75 then 100 miles to a charge.

Looks good until you realize how tiny it is, about 1/2 the size of a regular golf cart. Watch the video, you'll see a guy walk up to it:

Shop | Squad Mobility

The four swappable and portable batteries provide a range of 100 km/62 mi excluding solar. With an average solar range of 13 miles per day in a city such as Las Vegas, most users will find that charging is not even necessary.

Does that mean a battery swap is required every 15 miles? I hope "portable" means you carry the three additional batteries with you so you don't have to go home every time you need a swap.

It will be interesting to see what the real-world solar range is here in Florida with clouds, trees, and garages.

Article stated a larger version is in the pipeline.

How fast does it go? I need it to reach 30 MPH so I can speed to my tee time.

That mileage is a bit misleading. Sitting in the sun and charging it can charge enough to go 12-22 km (7.5-13.7 miles) per day. You will need to charge the batteries by plugging them in to go 62 miles per day. The entire concept that it is a solar vehicle is based on using it very little and leaving charging in the sun for the full day.

From the FAQ... "How long does it take to fully charge the battery?

We get this question a lot and of course we understand the question. However, a solar car works bit different than a normal EV. The Squad charges each day and every day throughout its lifetime. When the battery is full, you can't charge anymore, which would be a shame of course. Ideally you would find a balance between your daily usage and the solar charge. The average usage of micro cars is around 12 km per day and the panel can charge up to 22 km per day, validated in the Netherlands and up to 31 km in Spain, so for most users, in most occasions, this will be significant."

"Does the Squad only work when the sun is shining?

The Squad is a solar electric vehicle which charges the battery through the solar panel on the roof of the car. Alternatively the batteries can be charged directly on a regular power plug or a charge point. The swappable batteries can also be charged externally of the car."

You need to go home unless your spouse has a mobile Squad battery charging station.

Swappable Batteries
Keeping the fleet charged is a large operating expense for EV sharing platforms . Automatic solar charging offers a daily decrease of these costs and this will improve with advancing technology in the years to come, both solar PV, battery and powertrain efficiency.
Squad supports the solar charging with a swappable battery system where fleet owners and managers can quickly swap batteries with the help of the mobile or stationary Squad battery charging station.
Ultimately, the Squad can also be charged directly from the grid or charging infrastructure.

According to the website (link above) the L6 will go 45km/h and the L7 can go 70km/h

Vehicle has 4 battery slots. No need to swap anything for the 62 mile full range.
If you carried 3 extra batteries, in addition to the 4 already plugged in, your range would be 100+ miles

Here it would get charged well, excluding the rainy season and bad weather. There will be many people who could avoid ever plugging it in. But it will not solar charge if in a garage.

Interesting thing is the L7 speed is 70 km/h. That's 43mph. This thing is designed for street usage.

I don't see any Golf bag racks. Looks like its made for Urban, street travel more than 'Golf Cart' vehicle.

$6250 in U.S. dollars, but probably $12,500 Villages price

Tree huggers special

Wow, that's very promising. I especially like the price!

I love technology, but I do have one question. Most solar vehicles charge best when they are idle.
Most people in the Villages store their golf carts in their garage when not in use.
Isn't this a problem?

Anxiously awaiting the announcement of the Flintstones-style golf cart. 100% powered by human interaction, and totally green, baby!

A little bit green only when you exhale CO2 and water...A gas cart exhaling even more CO2 and water will make plants greener.

I can't believe it's that affordable.

From the press release email I got:

"4-person L7 will follow as well as a cargo version, a complete range of accessories like the Golf Bag rack and more special editions such as the Solar Buggy."

"Alternatively the batteries can be charged directly on a regular power plug or a charge point."

Fat people (will the cops arrest me for saying this) need not apply. This is pretty small cart but fascinating technology.

That is a solution, but if you’re a Villager and will most likely rely on alternative energy. Why bother with solar, just get an electric golf cart.

This won't work well in the summer here, we are constantly looking for shade!

they have had these in Cedar Kay for years.. Solar power golf carts

Solar powered golf carts were being made in Atlanta a few years ago and even qualified for the solar tax credit of 30% at the time.

6250 base price. Add ons can set it up for your needs. Course add ons up price like any other thing we buy.

Not to be critical to anyone but the one thing that is consistent in any conversation regarding EV's of any sort is, they are always "in the pipeline"

My electric cart is in my garage. I have seen plenty of Teslas in garages too.

People want constant improvements and so there is a pipeline of EV improvements coming. I am not aware of a pipeline of ICE improvements, is that a feather in the cap of ICE or an acknowledgment that they have come as far as they can?

Well, the price seems to be about 1/2 of a regular gas golf cart. Every E-cart that someone buys replaces a gas golf cart. That would decrease the demand for gasoline and should, therefore, lower the gas price. So, a gas cart owner also benefits from each E-cart purchased. If enough E-vehicles are purchased then there would be less pollution and less climate change.

Wow, so now you can drive a golf cart on the Sun 🌞 ❓

This will work totally fine for just about every place that isn't the size of the Villages.

You mean those ever wanting a change in life baby boomers?, LOL

Don't forget to carry a tow rope.

This doesn't work in real life. You only get the full 13 miles if the cart is left sitting in the sun all day. Who's going to leave the cart out in the sun all day when you know the damage the sun and heat does to the rest of the vehicle?

The only time it will charge for most folks is when it's in use... and you're typically driving under trees for about 50% of the time on the paths. On the course, you could keep it in the sun, but doing the math the vehicle would only be outside in the sun for 4-6 hours per day which gives you only 6-8 miles.

A better solution would be if you had a permanent panel at home and battery charging station for the swappable batteries. That way batteries are charging all day long.