EV Golf Carts
 

Looking at an Evolution EV cart. Being told their biggest battery is 160 ah. 50 - 60 mile range with speeds up to 27 (if adjusted). They used to offer a 205 ah battery that would go 70 miles. They don't offer that larger battery. Next, The one I'm looking at is 77 inches in height. I have the map of all tunnels in the villages and know that several are only 74 inches in height at the sides (82 inches in middle ) What is your experience with actual mileage and dealing with the lower tunnels?

Who does, or wants to, 50+ miles a day in a golf cart?
Over that, and gas is the way to go.
Height is your problem, the rest is personal choice.

We chose an EZGo because it was a "standard" height that we knew would not be a problem with the tunnels. Lately I've heard EZGo went with a taller design also but I haven't looked at any myself.

Will you go through those particular tunnels? Would you go through them regularly or would an alternate path work for you?

I have seen many scrapes in the top of those shorter tunnels.

In another thread there was a discussion of being able to easily lower the top of one of the taller EVs. I believe it was the Evolution but I'm not sure. The Search function should be able to find it.

Personally, we chose the shorter cart because of those tunnels. Realistically, there are alternate routes that we could have taken the four times we've been up that way in the last two years.

Range: I have an EZGo so apples to oranges. I tried to reach the end of my battery but at 45 miles I was tired of sitting in the seat and gave up. Since then I have had one 42 mile day. I believe I would be able to get 60 miles (others argue that I can't) but I don't see us ever traveling that far anyway.

Anyone who's willing to drive around in a golf cart, 50 miles a day, gets what he deserves ... a sore butt, sore back & a headache.

There's no way you can get 60 miles from a 160 battery at 20 mph ... you're definitely not going to get that, at 27 mph.

Figure 30-40 miles at TV Speeds (which is always pedal to the metal).

& yeah, there are people on here who insist they get 60-70 miles on a 150/160. I've called them on it and no one's willing to do a real test. I have a 210. At TV Speeds, I get about 50 miles of range. I could probably nurse it to 60, but I'd really have to be careful. (I also had a "loaner" one week, with a 105. I got about 24 miles and ran it dead.)

Don't know what kind of cart that is and don't really care but it sounds like it might have a problem if that's all the range you are getting. (And no, I don't care to spend four hours driving in a circle just to prove you wrong)

My EZGo gets 45+ miles with whatever battery it comes with and the Evolutions were advertised with a greater range than that.

I have an Evolution D5 Ranger (4 forward facing seats) with the 205ah battery. I live as far north as you can get in The Villages - in Phillips Villas just off 42 near the VA. Shallow Creek is about a 27 mile drive. I've driving down, played 18, went to dinner, and drove home. Total distance was a bit over 60 miles, and I had 30% battery left when I got home. My range is ~75 miles with 10% battery remaining.

I don't drive this distance often, but I want to be able to go anywhere in The Villages and not worry about battery being a factor. If I lived in the middle of The Villages, a 160ah battery would probably suffice, but if you're at either end, the 160ah won't be big enough.

....

I read two pages earlier today (which of course I cannot find again) that both gave a ballpark of 0.4 miles/AH for lithium. That would work out to be:

200AH -> 80 miles (your experience)
160AH -> 60 miles (my prediction for my cart, 3x55AH modules?)
106AH -> 40 miles (what I think I remember from my purchasing discussions)
55AH -> 20 miles (estimate for base configuration of EZGo)

Of course, these are ideal ranges and YMMV due to many factors including temperature, tire pressure, cart weight, number of passengers, driving style, etc.

Only lived here for a few months. Already had 3 days I went over 50 miles. No balls, no glory! And yes, gas cart. I test drove EV, but I don’t like how they drive. Or ride. Or having to plug them in. Or having to buy a new battery when the time comes.

We bought an Evolution Ranger 4 seat forward from Hidden Creek in June. It has the 160 battery and we live in the middle of Lake Denham. We have taken it to Sumter Landing and back and the trip back was with the lights on. Battery had 48% charge left. We took a trip up to Spanish Springs and back. Trip back was with the lights on and battery had 42% left. That is quite a long trip in a cart back and forth. I guess I always ask the gas cart people how much further are you going to go in a day than from almost as far South as you can go (once Eastport opens it will be further south but not by much).

We love this cart. No fumes, no noise so you can actually have a conversation easily with people in the back.

One trip we took was from Lake Denham to Fenney Grill and all around Eastport, then to Middleton. It was most of the day and when we got home it was at 32%.

Yes, we wish they had the 205 battery and we hear it will be back soon but this one does do the job.

2 seater evolution golf car.
2 major issues we have, speed max out 20, told can’t get any more
Parking brake release need to step on gas to release, then step on gas to go.
Can’t find independent repair shop won’t work on cart. Been told they can’t get parts.
Standard seats are hard.
All that said, battery life is good, quiet cart, looks nice.

Anyone with an EV golf cart ever considered putting a solar panel flat on the roof of their cart? Just asking.

I think the formula is AH X .45 = miles for an estimate, dealer told me range on 105 is 45-60 miles

Interesting
 

Interesting idea - there have been a few cars doing this - only got a few miles of charge from the panel per day - not enough surface area to fully charge. Then you have to really worry about tunnel clearance.

I’ve got a D5 with a 204 amp battery. Gets around 80 miles to a full charge. Do I do that much in a day? No, but I do around 80 miles in a week and I typically charge the cart only once a week. The cart can do 34 MPH if desired and programmed for top speed. You learn how to keep it at aprox 20 MPH same as driving a car that can go much faster you keep it at 70mph. The only tunnel I couldn’t get thru is by Saddlebrook.

EZgo is made in the U.S. Do you really want to buy a cart made in China?

I have an EZGO Lithium and live at Linden by Monarch Grove. When I travel to Nancy Lopez if I don’t stay close to the middle on that one way cave tunnel with speed bumps the back of the roof will scrape. Fun at 0630 in the morning. I have tested the range and achieved 60 miles. Long day, hsd to drive around the neighborhood a few times. Agree i can go anywhere I need. We have a home at Annapolis and travel often. Have over 6k miles and don’t lose battery capacity. It plug it in the night before I venture out fir Early Bird golf. Has neve left me stranded.

We just bought our 2nd Evolution Golf Cart from Todd at The Golf Cart Company 407.557.2775 (HIGHLY RECOMMEND Todd) We now have a 2 seater 180 Battery and a 4 seater front facing 160 battery. We love our Evolution GC and Todd is amazing!! He was able to lower the roof (NO add'l charge) in our 4 seater to manuver the lowest tunnel at saddlebrook. You wouldnt even know this was done. Give Todd a call and he will be more than happy to help you get into an Evolution GC Good luck with your journey, Best

My understanding is Hidden Creek Lowers the roof on theirs 2"

Recall my working career. Last couple of years had to drive 30 miles (one way) to get to work. Hated it. Have 0 desire to drive a golf cart that far. Live in the Spanish Springs area and have 0 desire to take cart further than Belle Glade CC

I have a STAR EV Golf Cart, with 8 Batteries. I have gone 80 miles on a full charge, but it's top speed is about 21 MPH with the tires fully inflated. I usually average about 20 MPH. It has a height of 73", and I can use any tunnel in The Villages. There are a few "low tunnels that require me to stay toward the left side of the lane because the tunnel slopes down a little too low on the right side.

I talked to a Dealership that sold Evolution EV carts last week .
They gave up Evolution because of repair issues , warranty issues ... getting parts ect .
Stay main stream , you'll thank yourself in years to come . Good Luck

I have a Star Sirius EV with a 210 ah battery. I can get over 70 miles with 10-20% charge left. And yes, I did it once when I first bought the cart to eliminate the “wonder if” factor.

I live in the Spanish Springs area. The Star is a little tall. But I have no problem in any of the tunnels up here (they are lower than tunnels down south) and I go through them all the time.

I too have gone from Spanish Springs down to play Shallow Creek - about 24 miles for me. It’s a beautiful golf cart ride. Played a round - and by the way, on the course the amount of charge used is nil - then sight see around the area to see how it’s developing. All total 55 miles no problem.

As far as comfort, my Star seats are as comfortable as my Cadillac. No sore anything. And the fresh air ride at a relaxed pace is more fun than the car.

All electric carts are programmable. Depends on the controller - most are Curtis - for the software needed. Star comes factory set with a 24 mph limit. Plenty for me. I usually cruise 21-22.

Star has independent suspension, retractable seat belts and a back up camera, too, which is nice in the golf cart parking lot for those guys that just want to stand behind your cart when you are backing up.

Have a friend who has an Evolution with a 180 ah. It is also a nice cart, his range is a little less than mine but sufficient for him he says. The Star ride is smoother.

I would say, for an electric cart, get the biggest battery you can.

Good luck on your decision

Not all Star EV's use a Curtis Controller and if you buy other than the 210 Amp, your cart will come set at 19.5 mph.

I find the 27 MPH (if adjusted) interesting and NOT in a good way. I think that there are big problems when MANY people want to go over 20 MPH. That just encourages dangerous passing. One positive note is that with an E-cart you will have a lower center of gravity than a gasoline cart. So, you should be able to BRAKE better than a gas cart.

I have a 205ah battery on my 2024 evolution D5 4 forward facing and I have had several discharges at 70 miles with 10-12% battery remaining. All of these runs have been with it in high range, in low range (set at 20mph) I think it'd go a little further. If you'd like to call me on that and do a test I'd be happy to.

Yeah, all the cart manufacturer’s do use different controllers. I was just saying that Curtis is probably predominant. You can program any controller - just need the right software and compatible plug to the controller. I did not know the 180 ah was set to 19.5 mph.

I don't have those problems.
No way I would ever consider giving up my gas cart for an EV.
And mine is a convertible.

No one is suggesting anyone travel 50 miles in a golf cart in one fell swoop.

But I've had days where I traveled 10+ miles to a golf course, rode 6- 7 miles playing golf, another several miles to eat lunch and 10+ miles home.

That's more than half that "50 mile"...

Now, add a trip to the pool or grocery store for a few more miles each way, go out to one of the squares or dinner for another 5-10 miles each way and it's easy to hit that "50 mile number" (or even higher)...

Breaking up the trip as I suggested removed the silly "iron butt" argument...

We test drove the Evolution. It was ok. Too many variables for us like the range, bigger battery was not available, and mostly the availability and cost of parts which was mentioned by the dealer due to potential tariffs coming because these carts are made in China could be a problem. decided to stick with Yamaha gas.

Based on your description, this is the older Classic design, not the new D5. The D5 is better in build quality, ride, seating, and features. No comparison.

The cart is not maxed out at 20 - anybody with a cable and software (usually a dealer) can set it to as high as 35 (no idea why you would ever want to go that fast).

These ranges are not attainable in an Evolution D5. Keep in mind you never want to take the battery below 10%. Realistic ranges (again, depends on speed and weight in cart) are:

205ah: 70-75 miles
160ah: 50-55 miles
110ah: 30-35 miles

I'd say they're optimistic, not realistic.

& most battery "gauges" are like the gas gauges on my ''68 GTO ... optimistic, when it gets close to empty. The Loaner I used one day, had a gauge that said 20% left ... I got 3 miles.

I'd say two of the three are observed, not calculated.

And of course, all the other factors apply including battery level meters that are not linear or necessarily accurate.

Obviously the OP. Why does it matter who wants to do that? Are you the distance police?

Why place your personal limitations onto others?

People do not have to drive it all in one shot. A person can spend a lazy day, driving to one square for breakfast, then to a friend's house, then to a few different events, then to lunch, then to more events, then to another square, then to home.

We take 50 to 60 mile trips with our neighbors about once a month. We all enjoy seeing different parts of the villages. If you plan on doing that I would go with the bigger battery. We all have gas but one person and he ran out of charge about 1/2 mile from home. If you are going to do long golf cart rides get better quality seats. It makes a big difference

I explained how easy it is to do that earlier in the thread...

From TVGC website...Their own range test with 210ah Star cart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D-3iApjeyk&t=2s