How Much Range is Honestly Needed?
 

Trying to decide on new cart. Really like the electric but have range anxiety! lol…. Not moved in yet so new and not sure how many miles people really go. Is 75 or so miles on the STAR enough do you think?

How far/how long do you consider a "long ride" in your car?

75 miles in your golf cart, will likely take you 5 hours. All the while, exposed to the elements ... heat, humidity, cold, rain, traffic, noise, etc.

When is enough? You decide.

I live between 466A and 44. I don't golf. The 50-60 mile range of my cart works well for me.

I took a four hour trip one time to put 42 miles on the cart. This included stopping at Savannah center, crossing the Spanish Springs Bridge, and having a drink at Sawgrass and Ednas. Even with a couple of stops for refreshment it was clear to me that I don't want to drive that far in a single day.

I don't know if I would have enough range to drive up to First Responders and then down to Lake Denham and back home. I don't know why I would ever want to do that. But, I expect your 75 miles would be enough.

If I lived at one of the extreme ends of the Villages and planned to regularly drive to the other end then I would want to calculate the distance to make sure I had enough range. On the other hand, if I lived at one of the extreme ends of the Villages and planned to regularly drive to the other end then I would consider moving closer to where I planned to spend my time.

One end to the other, take a car.

Try renting a cart for 2 weeks. That will help you decide on how far you really want to drive your cart. I have an electric cart and from Osceola Hills, I have no trouble getting anywhere, play 18 holes of golf and get home. Also, by renting, you can see what added features you might want on a golf cart.

I'm afraid you opened this can of worms again---gas vs electric.

Gas is reliable, you'll get 250+ miles on a tank and if you ever run out and get stuck, cart aide can bring you a gallon

Electric is quiet and the range is improving. Electric enthusiasts will deny that the range decreases with battery age, others disagree. Eventually batteries need to be replaced---the enthusiasts claim 10-15 years, others 5-8 years. But if you plan poorly and get stuck you will get towed.

I currently own a Yamaha gas cart. I will change to electric when they attain about 90% of the reliability of gas.

Full disclosure: I will NEVER change to electric anything to "save the planet" from global warming---utter nonsense.

As this is the first post in this thread to mention gas, just WHO is it that "opened this can of worms again?"

But if you want to take this thread there, what data do you have that indicates electric carts are less reliable than gas? I can find threads about voltage regulator problems, starter brush problems, 12V battery problems (in gas carts), jerky start problems, and gas carts catching fire. From the actual problems reported on this forum (not speculation, actual problems) it would seem the reliability of electric carts exceeds that of gas carts.

We currently own both a gas and an electric golf cart (lithium-ion battery pack with LFP chemistry). In 10 years, we have never gone more than 30 miles in a day. Our electric has a range of about 60 miles and running out of charge is never an issue. Just plug it in every evening. While I don't know how much you are likely to drive in a day, keep in mind that 75 miles is a long time to be in golf cart. Most people would just take a car for those infrequent occasions. I believe you are more likely to be stopped with a flat tire than run out of electric charge or gas. Sign up for one of the golf cart rescue services such as Kart Aide. We have had two flats in 10 years. When it comes time, we will undoubted replace the gas cart with another electric.

Posted like a true believer in electric. But to address reader comprehension, the OP was considering electric but has range anxiety. Not very hard to infer the option is gas, unless one thinks he was considering a skateboard

Yep, immerse yourself in this website and its search function as anything and everything that I want to know before and after I got here has been discussed at some point and I have found very informative. Once you get your answer, gas or electric then what about 4 vs 2 seater….see below.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...=electric+cart
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...f-cart-351814/

Lithium electric works fine for me - more range than I need in a typical day. But if you run out of charge in an electric cart or gasoline in a gas cart, consider yourself to be just plain stupid. Both have gages to tell you how far you can go. Yes, subscribe to Kart Aide or one of the other services. They can pick up your electric cart and bring it back to your garage, or put some gas in your tank. But save yourself the embarrassment and get into the habit of checking your gage before you leave.

True believer? Perhaps, but that belief comes from actual personal experience and situational awareness, not irrational skepticism.

Might just be me, but it didn't take much to comprehend what is being asked with the question, "Is 75 or so miles on the STAR enough do you think?"

He wasn't considering Solar, Hydrogen or the myriad of other possibilities?

It's always gas vs electric. We need a new player. :a20:

Or, having range anxiety. As opposed to what? Parasailing? Yes, it doesn’t take much to comprehend

Although you weren’t addressing me, I will chime in on that question. I prefer to rely on empirical evidence. I’ve been driving around the Villages for 9 years in a golf cart and I always carry a tow strap. I even have a trailer hitch on the back of my Quiet Tech that provides a quick, easy, and safe point to attach the strap. Over the years, I have towed at least 6 dead carts that I can easily recall. I have never had to tow a gas cart. Granted, electric cart technology has definitely improved over the years, and the carts I have towed were most likely not newer lithium technology.