[Southwest737]

Originally Posted by as3369

Even though I love my Tesla, I'm definitely going the gas route when choosing a Golf Cart!

Why? I have 80-90 mile range in my EZGO. More than adequate. Love my Tesla and my EZGO with lithium. You couldn’t give me one of those antiquated piston pumping, belts a whirring, gasoline sucking, noxious fume blasting , noise making, low torque turds.

[Ignatz]

As nice of a gesture this would be by a business, I can’t see many businesses (lawyers) allowing people to stretch cords from their carts to the electrical outlets and creating tripping hazards that you just know people will find.

[Johnnybgood]

Originally Posted by Southwest737

Why? I have 80-90 mile range in my EZGO. More than adequate. Love my Tesla and my EZGO with lithium. You couldn’t give me one of those antiquated piston pumping, belts a whirring, gasoline sucking, noxious fume blasting , noise making, low torque turds.

I have 2 gas Golfcarts one is 12 years old and looks great and runs like a top. It’s never been back for service. I change the oil and plug every year for a cost of 22 bucks. It has 15 thousand miles on it. My neighbor had to replace his battery at a cost of 5 grand. Don’t understand what’s to love

[Ducatigator]

Legitimate question. Electric golf cart sales are on the rise. Big thing is the consumer as well as the stores need to make sure they buy a large capacity lithium battery. The Village Golf Cart stores know it, but when people buy outside they don't. I have a 210 lithium, live deep south in Dabney and run to Spanish Springs, the Polo Club, Nancy Lopez and back with plenty of charge left. Anyone with a 105 lithium can not do that run. I usually tell people depending on your golf cart driving habits, you may get away with a160/180 lithium battery but you are skirting a bit on range limitations.

Now, charging. Hmmm. You would think that every Village golf Cart store would be the place to Start. Install a couple of stations, charge like everyone does for the lithium cars and have a limited timer and owner gets charged if they go over and don't pick up their cart. I do not own a Tesla but this is what my friends that do tell me the charging stations are like now. It really is for emergency purposes only. If you buy the right battery it isn't an issue. But i do agree, TV will need to address the issue in some manner relatively soon, next couple of years maybe???? Down South, electric seems to be really outshining gas in terms of choice.

As for the amenity fee, I do not think it's appropriate to increase fees for everyone just because of charging stations. It should be on a charge for use basis only.

I think businesses that have parking lots will start accommodations for electric carts sooner than later. But it does take a voice and suggestions.

Eastport would be a great place to start the trend.

Who knows, change takes time.

Regardless, enjoy the ride . Gas or electric, the lifestyle is amazing.We all live in paradise.

Have a blessed day.

Thanks
Serge

[Maker]

Originally Posted by Berwin

You can get a solar charging kit with the solar panel mounted on top of the roof. I just googled 'golf cart solar charger' and lots of options. And for the EV haters, I'm not recommending anyone buy one of these - just pointing out options.

How much power a solar panel will provide in a few hours of direct sunlight can be measured in adding only feet of range.

Useful if your cart is parked all day in sunlight and is not used much. Otherwise buyer beware.

[Dlbonivich]

My cart goes 60 miles I. A charge. Plugs into a regular plug they could add emergency plugs at the gas station at Brownwood near the gas pumps.

[PoolBrews]

Originally Posted by Berwin

You can get a solar charging kit with the solar panel mounted on top of the roof. I just googled 'golf cart solar charger' and lots of options. And for the EV haters, I'm not recommending anyone buy one of these - just pointing out options.

These are worthless. As an engineer, it's very easy to do the math.

1) A solar panel of that size would take many days in full sunlight to charge a battery. The amount of time a cart is outside in the sun during any drive is not enough to extend range by even a mile. Even a round of golf will not provide any appreciable charge.
2) The panel is only charging when it's outside in the sun. Most drives around The Villages are on paths with quite a bit of shade. Again, resulting in no appreciable charge.
3) With the added height to the roof, more tunnels will be an issue.
4) You will have tie it into your cart's system and this will invalidate the warranty.

The only good solution for an electric cart is to get one with a large lithium battery (200ah or bigger) that provides a range of 70+ miles. I have a 205ah battery and can go a bit over 70 miles with 10% remaining on the battery. I can go from the far north end of The Villages (near Lopez), to Shallow Creek, play 18, and return home with 20% battery.

[biker1]

If you figure a solar panel with a nominal output of 300 watts then you might get a mile or two of range per hour in the middle of the day. Of course, a mile only cost about 2 cents when charging at home is I don't really see the point.

Originally Posted by Maker

How much power a solar panel will provide in a few hours of direct sunlight can be measured in adding only feet of range.

Useful if your cart is parked all day in sunlight and is not used much. Otherwise buyer beware.

[Arctic Fox]

Originally Posted by Ducatigator

Regardless, enjoy the ride . Gas or electric, the lifestyle is amazing.We all live in paradise.

Going everywhere in the golf carts is a high point of life in the Villages.

When we have guests, some insist on renting a car and never using the carts. Possibly fear of the unknown, but they are certainly missing out.

[mrf6969]

Originally Posted by PoolBrews

These are worthless. As an engineer, it's very easy to do the math.

1) A solar panel of that size would take many days in full sunlight to charge a battery. The amount of time a cart is outside in the sun during any drive is not enough to extend range by even a mile. Even a round of golf will not provide any appreciable charge.
2) The panel is only charging when it's outside in the sun. Most drives around The Villages are on paths with quite a bit of shade. Again, resulting in no appreciable charge.
3) With the added height to the roof, more tunnels will be an issue.
4) You will have tie it into your cart's system and this will invalidate the warranty.

The only good solution for an electric cart is to get one with a large lithium battery (200ah or bigger) that provides a range of 70+ miles. I have a 205ah battery and can go a bit over 70 miles with 10% remaining on the battery. I can go from the far north end of The Villages (near Lopez), to Shallow Creek, play 18, and return home with 20% battery.

So, there you have it. Charge at home or the alternative is a Yamaha quiet cart with 250 miles in the tank and stations everywhere. That is all that needs to be said.

[rsmurano]

Why would we pay for charging golf carts? We shouldn’t subsidize this sort of thing. If we subsidize this, then the residents should subsidize our gas for golf carts.
Electric carts will have a hard time doing a day loop around the villages, unlike a gas cart could make the loop a couple of times on a tank of gas.
Get a cart that will meet your needs.

[n8xwb]

Golf carts don't "fast charge" like EVs. The added range after an hour's charge would be minimal.

[Elixir34]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

The batteries on my cart are several years old and I want to make a longer-than-usual trip - way down south to Brownwood.

The cart has a built-in charger - are there any standard outlets anywhere in Brownwood where I can plug in to give it an hour's charge and ensure I get home?

Outback had one in Spanish Springs but I don't know what Brownwood offers.

Thank you

Yes.
There is one on the side of the building in the walkway east of the Genesis workout building. Have to pull your cart from the parking lot up into the walkway.

[LeRoySmith]

Originally Posted by PoolBrews

I have a 205ah battery and can go a bit over 70 miles with 10% remaining on the battery.

We get similar results from our 205ah battery. If you knew in advance you were going to really stretch your range if you're extra careful on the throttle you could probably get another 5 or 6 miles range (but I've never gone long distance and had the discipline to be easy the entire time).

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by Elixir34

Yes.
There is one on the side of the building in the walkway east of the Genesis workout building. Have to pull your cart from the parking lot up into the walkway.

This is a public plug??? Or are you just stealing electricity???