Does The Villages Golf Cars sell Electric Golf Cars from Yamaha?
 

I am wondering if The Villages Golf Cars sells the Yamaha Drive 2 PowerTech AC series of electric golf cars?

Since I never see them talk about electric carts from Yamaha, I assume they don't sell them. They look pretty solid.

Thanks

Be advised that the batteries in electric golf carts don't last as long in the Florida heat as their counterparts in the northern states. That eight year life expectancy doesn't make it down here. Just ask anyone about how long their batteries last in their cars down here. After three years they've had it!

TOTALLY agree. We've been in TV for 10 years. Decided to go electric for our cart. First one was Yamaha with 8 6V batteries. Range of 35 miles, and needed to replace batts after 3 years. Then got a Tomberlin electric. Same issue. Not good. And batts are now VERY expensive.

Now after 6 months we have a lithium electric cart. OMG - 80 mile range and easy charging. Smooth, reliable - and NO BATTERIES to replace. Very pleased.

Lithium will need replaced at some point. Did they tell you the expected life expectancy?

I have a Plowman modified Yamaha gas cart up north. I would sure love a Yamaha 4-forward (concierge model) lithium cart!

Problem is that Yamaha is a bit like Toyota. They are very reliable but not very innovative. They constantly play catch up. All the new bells and whistles are in German cars, not Japanese cars.

Same with Yamaha jet skis. Very reliable but Sea-Doo has all the cool features.

Same with boat motors. Ya know the saying, "If you wanna get there fast, get a Mercury. If you wanna get there every time, get a Yamana."

Yamahas are very reliable, very sturdy, very "bulletproof" but innovative they are not. Several years behind other makes on bells and whistles. This, sadly, includes lithium carts.

Yamaha AV receivers had huge input capacitance so when cranked up, the lights in the room would flicker with the beat of the kettle drums.

TVGC don't carry the Yamaha AC carts because 105ah battery is not large enough and you are stuck at 19.5 MPH unless you put larger diameter wheels on it which requires a lift kit. I suspect not enough takers so TVGC won't sell them. The 8x6V lead-acid is good for about 60 miles but lead-acid is so 200 years ago.

The battery in a car has to contend with 180F+ engine next to it...not so much in a electric golf cart application.

How is that a problem? Yamaha makes the best personal transportation golf cart on the market. With all the $$$ their competitors throw at innovation, they are still chasing Yamaha. Yamaha showed great innovation several years ago by making a very quiet and reliable gas cart with an independent rear suspension. If it ain’t broke, why try to fix it? Same with Toyota/Honda/Nissan/Subaru. Unlike over engineered German autos, which are less reliable and cost a small fortune to fix, rice burners are extremely reliable. If I could purchase a brand new 1995 Toyota Camry or Tacoma, with a 5 speed manual transmission and no computer chips or sensors, I would snap it up in a heartbeat.
Here is hoping government regulations stay out of the golf cart business and don’t start forcing manufacturers to build unreliable pieces of crap. There are already enough of those golf carts out there from China.

Perhaps I was not clear. I have a gang of Yamaha stuff (gas cart, gas outboard motor, gas Jetski). The "Problem" I was referring to is they are great manufacturers but they are not at the vanguard of feature innovation. The "Problem" is that I want a Yamaha lithium 4-front facing concierge but they are not running point on installing lithium batts in their carts.

I have no problem with Yamaha's quality.

I bought an EV golf cart a few months ago and we love it. We can drive all the way down south and still have enough power to get back home. We got an 8 year warranty and I’m happy with that.

OP, it does not appear your original questions was answered, and I cannot answer it. I would simply call The villages golf carts tell them what you want and ask if they sell and SERVICE them. There are several Yamaha dealers to the North and South of TV (Ocala, Webster) that would be my next point of contact and I believe they offer at home service. The prices have been reported to be lower, but you do not get a loaner.

The OP’s question was answered in post #6.

Yet?

“All the new bells and whistles are in German cars, not Japanese cars.“

Yep that why they loose 60% of value in 5 years. :Screen_of_Death: I’d take Toyota or Honda over anything European got to offer.

I asked The Villages Golf Cart about why no Yamaha Lithium carts? They said that Yamaha knows they own the gas cart market and feel that a Yamaha Lithium cart would only compete / cut into their gas cart sales. Sounded like a plausible answer to me.