[rnj4983]

My wife and I will be moving to TV in July and will be living in the Village of Sanibel. Which type of Golf Car would be best to have if we want to go to Spanish Springs Square or Lake Sumpter Landing? Will an Electric Cart make the round trip from Sanibel to Spanish Springs?

[Trish Miller]

Gas is the way to go because The Villages is getting bigger by the minute!!

[skip0358]

Another vote for gas GC especially if it's going to be your main source of transport and going to SS. I have one of each although the electric makes it I know when i see 1/4 of a tank of gas or better I can go anywhere without being concerned.

[ajbrown]

Here are a few recent threads to check out......

Gas vs Electric Golf carts

Gas or electric cart -- different question!

Golf Carts

How many miles a day do U use your cart

Just wondering..... Golf Cart - Gas or Electric?

Do you care about your carbon footprint?

Good luck

[Jullie]

In answer to your question, electric will make it.
BUT, I vote for gas cart. We originally bought electric cart and ended up buying gas.

Gas go faster up the hills and further. $$$ to replace batteries every 3-5 yrs.

Make sure you investigate the different models. A lot of people have problems with Par carts. Good luck.

[Bill & Carolyn]

My wife and I went in several cycles when considering this over the last year between electric and gas.

Electric golf carts are generally more expensive, require more routine maintenance (filling batteries, etc), and I think the environmental benefits are debatable.

We test rode both types extensively and we clearly liked the ride the electric provides and the lower noise of the electric. My wife has osteoporosis in her neck and back and a smooth ride is a must for her. The electrics we rode were clearly smoother (and quieter) in acceleration, braking, and cruising. For those reasons we initially favored the electric, but, at the time (2010-2011) the electrics did not provide any relief from the #1 detractor for them -- range anxiety. Sure they advertize '60 mile' ranges, but those are under ideal conditions not involving a lot of start/stop activity. We finally found an salesman that did tell us that the best we could expect under 'normal' use including driving to/from TC and playing a round of golf was about 35 miles. In December 2011 I was pretty certain that we would be getting a gas model.

During our visit this past March (we bought in Pennecamp in March 2012 and have been coming for two week stays since until I retire in this coming November) that changed because of E-Z-Go's introduction of a new electric with a 'range extender'. They call it a 'hybrid' but it really isn't. They install a small generator where the well for golf bags normally is, which means they have to have a special golf bag carrier attached to the back of the cart. This generator will provide enough charge to the batteries to enable them to last for around 100 miles on a single 'charge', maybe more. It also offers an option for more batteries than the standard and the range on them alone is around 60 miles or more. We test drove one extensively with both straight battery mode and with the generator running and liked it very much. We ordered one to be delivered in November when we become permanent residents (Woot!). It cost around 12K with the extended battery pack, the range extender, the golf bag carrier and a few other extras we wanted. You have to figure that 100 mile range means 5 hours of driving time/day (100 miles / 20mph speed limit) for the Golf cart and I have no intention of driving a golf cart for that period of time. The generator gives us the ability, if we have to, to stop the vehicle and run the generator to give the batteries enough charge to get us home, which was the big fear, getting stuck 5 miles or so from home with a dead battery.

My wife and I are not big golfers and, even when I golf, I intend to drag my clubs around on the course to get the benefit of the exercise as long as I'm able to, so, the drag on the batteries from start/stop on the golf course isn't an issue for us.

If you intend to use the cart extensively on the golf course I would not recommend that you get even this model electric. It meets our needs nicely because we have no range anxiety and it helps my wife's issues. I am taking on the extra cost and maintenance requirements knowingly.

I think they have one at Town And Country Golf Carts.

[tainsley]

We have had both...electric is the way we went. No noise, no smell and we can make it easily up all hills. We get approx. 60 mls/charge. (have never ran out of power, farthest we have gone is approx. 50 mls). It certainly is a personal choice!

[hdh1470]

you can find studies on internet about operating cost of electric vs gas.These have been done by golf courses who have both.They say cost to operate is about the same for both.We have electric but will be getting another cart.We still don't know which, one day I lean elect.the next gas.

[rnj4983]

Thank you all for the information. The Talk of The Villages is an excellent forum for getting answers to questions from the first hand point of view. Looking forward to becoming a Villager pretty soon!!!!!

[jimbo2012]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

Haaa, tks U saved me the trouble.

Electric all the way, and I think you're going to see two solar electric carts driving around with some crazy guy from NY.

Really they will likely be offered this winter when I move.

[The Villager II]

electric. My butt will wear out before the batteries go dead. My Elec cart gets about 60 miles per charge and if I need that much it is in the CAR for me.

[hedoman]

Originally Posted by Trish65

Gas is the way to go because The Villages is getting bigger by the minute!!

By my count, more people are switching from electric to gas than the other way round. Some are getting a suplemental gas cart for the longer distances

just sayin........................

[Schaumburger]

Originally Posted by Bill & Carolyn

My wife and I went in several cycles when considering this over the last year between electric and gas.

Electric golf carts are generally more expensive, require more routine maintenance (filling batteries, etc), and I think the environmental benefits are debatable.

We test rode both types extensively and we clearly liked the ride the electric provides and the lower noise of the electric. My wife has osteoporosis in her neck and back and a smooth ride is a must for her. The electrics we rode were clearly smoother (and quieter) in acceleration, braking, and cruising. For those reasons we initially favored the electric, but, at the time (2010-2011) the electrics did not provide any relief from the #1 detractor for them -- range anxiety. Sure they advertize '60 mile' ranges, but those are under ideal conditions not involving a lot of start/stop activity. We finally found an salesman that did tell us that the best we could expect under 'normal' use including driving to/from TC and playing a round of golf was about 35 miles. In December 2011 I was pretty certain that we would be getting a gas model.

During our visit this past March (we bought in Pennecamp in March 2012 and have been coming for two week stays since until I retire in this coming November) that changed because of E-Z-Go's introduction of a new electric with a 'range extender'. They call it a 'hybrid' but it really isn't. They install a small generator where the well for golf bags normally is, which means they have to have a special golf bag carrier attached to the back of the cart. This generator will provide enough charge to the batteries to enable them to last for around 100 miles on a single 'charge', maybe more. It also offers an option for more batteries than the standard and the range on them alone is around 60 miles or more. We test drove one extensively with both straight battery mode and with the generator running and liked it very much. We ordered one to be delivered in November when we become permanent residents (Woot!). It cost around 12K with the extended battery pack, the range extender, the golf bag carrier and a few other extras we wanted. You have to figure that 100 mile range means 5 hours of driving time/day (100 miles / 20mph speed limit) for the Golf cart and I have no intention of driving a golf cart for that period of time. The generator gives us the ability, if we have to, to stop the vehicle and run the generator to give the batteries enough charge to get us home, which was the big fear, getting stuck 5 miles or so from home with a dead battery.

My wife and I are not big golfers and, even when I golf, I intend to drag my clubs around on the course to get the benefit of the exercise as long as I'm able to, so, the drag on the batteries from start/stop on the golf course isn't an issue for us.

If you intend to use the cart extensively on the golf course I would not recommend that you get even this model electric. It meets our needs nicely because we have no range anxiety and it helps my wife's issues. I am taking on the extra cost and maintenance requirements knowingly.

I think they have one at Town And Country Golf Carts.

Bill & Carolyn, Thank you for the interesting and informative post. Last year when I rented in TV I drove gas carts. Earlier this month when I rented in TV I drove an electric cart for the first time. I'm just a wannabee, but if I was buying in TV tomorrow I would get an electric cart. I could hear the birds chirping when driving the electric cart it was so quiet...

[CarGuys]

With the new Battery's ,efficient AC motors and optional factory Solar as a accessory that extend your range 5-8 miles Range anxiety is lessened. And more important extend your battery life 2-4 years.

I have been talking with the company that manufactures the panel. They have extensive trials in places like Iraq and Afghanistan for the US military.

http://batteryminders.com/forms/electric_vs_gas.pdf Coutersy of Battery Minder although I have just been told this Battery Minder product will destroy the batteries on a EZGO cart voiding warranty. My expereience in the Automotive industry makes me think this is not true.

Waiting for more tech support from Battery Minder

[Bavarian]

Originally Posted by Bill & Carolyn

My wife and I went in several cycles when considering this over the last year between electric and gas.

Electric golf carts are generally more expensive, require more routine maintenance (filling batteries, etc), and I think the environmental benefits are debatable.

We test rode both types extensively and we clearly liked the ride the electric provides and the lower noise of the electric. My wife has osteoporosis in her neck and back and a smooth ride is a must for her. The electrics we rode were clearly smoother (and quieter) in acceleration, braking, and cruising. For those reasons we initially favored the electric, but, at the time (2010-2011) the electrics did not provide any relief from the #1 detractor for them -- range anxiety. Sure they advertize '60 mile' ranges, but those are under ideal conditions not involving a lot of start/stop activity. We finally found an salesman that did tell us that the best we could expect under 'normal' use including driving to/from TC and playing a round of golf was about 35 miles. In December 2011 I was pretty certain that we would be getting a gas model.

During our visit this past March (we bought in Pennecamp in March 2012 and have been coming for two week stays since until I retire in this coming November) that changed because of E-Z-Go's introduction of a new electric with a 'range extender'. They call it a 'hybrid' but it really isn't. They install a small generator where the well for golf bags normally is, which means they have to have a special golf bag carrier attached to the back of the cart. This generator will provide enough charge to the batteries to enable them to last for around 100 miles on a single 'charge', maybe more. It also offers an option for more batteries than the standard and the range on them alone is around 60 miles or more. We test drove one extensively with both straight battery mode and with the generator running and liked it very much. We ordered one to be delivered in November when we become permanent residents (Woot!). It cost around 12K with the extended battery pack, the range extender, the golf bag carrier and a few other extras we wanted. You have to figure that 100 mile range means 5 hours of driving time/day (100 miles / 20mph speed limit) for the Golf cart and I have no intention of driving a golf cart for that period of time. The generator gives us the ability, if we have to, to stop the vehicle and run the generator to give the batteries enough charge to get us home, which was the big fear, getting stuck 5 miles or so from home with a dead battery.

My wife and I are not big golfers and, even when I golf, I intend to drag my clubs around on the course to get the benefit of the exercise as long as I'm able to, so, the drag on the batteries from start/stop on the golf course isn't an issue for us.

If you intend to use the cart extensively on the golf course I would not recommend that you get even this model electric. It meets our needs nicely because we have no range anxiety and it helps my wife's issues. I am taking on the extra cost and maintenance requirements knowingly.

I think they have one at Town And Country Golf Carts.

Sounds interesting and a good idea. Electric will get better with time. When my wife and I were down for visit last Summer, we had gas, loud and stinky.

Next there needs to be charging stations in the shopping areas.

Are the batteries not of the new sealed variety? Even so, adding water is no big deal, did it all the time on cars before.