[Advogado]

Because of the air pollution they cause, California has outlawed the sale of new gas carts. I wish Florida would do the same. The Villages would be a much more pleasant, safer, and healthier place without their noise, smells, and dangerous (in the common case of tampering with the speed-governor) speeding.

[collie1228]

You need to decide what's most important to you. Personally, I don't like the noise or smell of a gas cart, so I prefer electric. Of course, the smell doesn't really impact the driver; it's the cart following you that gets to "enjoy" it. I have two electric Club Car carts, and have to be diligent about maintaining the batteries and keeping them charged. If you don't think you will be meticulous about maintaining the batteries, you should get a gas cart. And if you want electric, you need to understand that the range will not be as good as a gas cart. But I can drive from Spanish Springs all the way down to Bonafay, play 18 holes of golf, and return home with more than 50% remaining on my batteries. That's as far as I ever want to travel on any golf cart, gas or electric. I will have to replace the six batteries when they are 3-4 years old at a cost of around $800.00 (you can probably go longer, but you will be at risk of getting stranded). Bottom line, there are clear differences between gas and electric, and you need to decide what's important to you.

[CatskillBill]

Originally Posted by Advogado

Because of the air pollution they cause, California has outlawed the sale of new gas carts. I wish Florida would do the same. The Villages would be a much more pleasant, safer, and healthier place without their noise, smells, and dangerous (in the common case of tampering with the speed-governor) speeding.

Speaking of dangerous, have you ever been around a battery that exploded?
I was just last week. My neighbor needed a tow from the mail box because his ELECTRIC cart died. Before we started to tow it he decided to try one more time. Good thing the seat was down, because when he hit the pedal a shotgun blast went off. The top of the battery blew completley off and acid was everywhere. By some dumb luck neither of us got hurt and it didn't catch fire. BTW, how many Villages homes have burned down from electric cart fires? Seems like every year there's one or two.

Open this link for some revealing hydrogen info. While responding to hundreds of CO alarms from carts charging, the Fire Dept is not available

The Unexpected Golf Cart Hazard - Firehouse

[Gat0r]

I have seen a gas cart burn up on Odell.They had to replace the pavement.

[784caroline]

Just be prepared to spend $650-700 in batteries every 3-4 years. Once they start to go bad you cannot mess around and you need to replace them or you will get stranded.

Also you need to consider how much you will be using the golf cart and where you are located compared to where you will be travelling to most of the time. If you live in Collier or further south and plan to go to Katie Bells or other places up north, that will be alot that wil be alot of battery drain...should not be a problem with new batteries but they do get old.

[CatskillBill]

Originally Posted by Gat0r

I have seen a gas cart burn up on Odell.They had to replace the pavement.

It does happen, but not very often. You'll occasionally see a car on the side of an interstate on fire too. Was the cause electrical? Probably.

Replacing pavement is alot easier than replacing skin.

[Advogado]

Originally Posted by 784caroline

Just be prepared to spend $650-700 in batteries every 3-4 years. Once they start to go bad you cannot mess around and you need to replace them or you will get stranded.

Also you need to consider how much you will be using the golf cart and where you are located compared to where you will be travelling to most of the time. If you live in Collier or further south and plan to go to Katie Bells or other places up north, that will be alot that wil be alot of battery drain...should not be a problem with new batteries but they do get old.

After almost 5 years, we replaced out batteries (36 volt) with Battery Boys. The cost was a little over $500. The battery-replacement cost is offset by lower maintenance costs and fuel costs with an electric. Non-biased sales people used to say that overall operating costs are about the same for both types, but with today's higher gas prices, I think that the cost-scales may have tipped in favor of electric.

[looneycat]

Originally Posted by 784caroline

Just be prepared to spend $650-700 in batteries every 3-4 years. Once they start to go bad you cannot mess around and you need to replace them or you will get stranded.

Also you need to consider how much you will be using the golf cart and where you are located compared to where you will be travelling to most of the time. If you live in Collier or further south and plan to go to Katie Bells or other places up north, that will be alot that wil be alot of battery drain...should not be a problem with new batteries but they do get old.

amen, my batteries are 2.5 years old and I barely can make the trip from Hadley to the regional hospital and back...then the cart is back on the charger and useless to me!

[Hacker1]

Originally Posted by 784caroline

Just be prepared to spend $650-700 in batteries every 3-4 years. Once they start to go bad you cannot mess around and you need to replace them or you will get stranded.

Also you need to consider how much you will be using the golf cart and where you are located compared to where you will be travelling to most of the time. If you live in Collier or further south and plan to go to Katie Bells or other places up north, that will be alot that wil be alot of battery drain...should not be a problem with new batteries but they do get old.

My batteries are 4 years old, and still almost as good as new. A year and a half ago, I invested in a Battery Minder, which is a trickle charger and de-sulfater. If batteries are properly maintained, they will last much longer than 3-4 years.

[l2ridehd]

I have one of each. If I could only have one cart it would be gas. I do really like the electric, and use it when the trips are short or just going to play golf and come home. If doing a lot of running around, not sure when we will be back or how far we will go, we take the gas. I personally have seen twenty three carts being towed. I have towed three myself. Was not able to verify all of them, but at least 16 plus the three I towed home were all electric. My guess is that all twenty three were electric. Also I believe it's 100% user error. People forget to plug them in or leave the key on with the lights on or never add water, something user caused. If you follow good operation and care electric is good. I again would say if I only had one cart it would be gas.

[George Bieniaszek]

Originally Posted by livsea2

I will quote a golf cart salesman here in he villages when I proposed the same question. " I sold over 150 golf carts last year, I can count on one hand the number of which were electric." I think the villages have spoken with their wallets.

A salesman ONLY sells what is in stock.

Test drive all the models, both electric and gas and see what you feel is the best cart to buy.

[indianavette]

I am in your same position and have "studied" this discussion for some time. In my opinion, it really does not matter as either are good choices. We have decided to go gas but just because I feel more comfortable with that choice. I got down to two, Yamaha gas or Ezgo battery. Both are excellent choices.