There are some solutions for charging stations for electric cars. It would interesting if this could be adapted (at low cost) to golf carts. In that manner, it might be possible to support the infrastructure required to provide this service to the public.

The reason I mention the automotive solution, as it takes care of the use of credit cards, it provides a way to stop some one from unplugging your car and plugging in theirs on your credit card. It provides the necessary safety for this type of electrical service. There are many concerns with providing charging stations. You really do not want to just provide a duplex receptacles for people to plug into. I am sure there could be significant liability issues.
Wish I had a good solution for this, I would go into business.

Which I then assume is user error. Going from Charlotte, to the Sharon or Savannah is an easy trip. I have traveled 55 miles on a charge and had capacity to spare. I recently went from Hillsborough to Orange Blossom to play 18 holes of golf, then headed to the visit a friend in Glenview (I forgot how long El Camino was) then home to Hillsborough. I have also gone to the Savannah Center by cart twice in the last month and since the show was a late show it was headlights on all the way. Sometimes I believe people believe this place is larger that it really is. By the way, you do know that Villages Golf Carts now sells electric carts....why do you think that is? People by gas out of fear and ignorance....which is a shame.

I'm guessing you don't...
 

want to pay for that quick charge...or can they have meters where you put money/swipe credit card for the charge?

If you do want it free then I want free gas for my cart when I go there. :1rotfl:

I have a gas cart and I can assure you my decision was based on neither fear nor ignorance. I am glad that you are happy with your cart but to suggest that people are making uninformed decisions is just a stupid thing to say. My gas cart will have higher resale value, is extremely reliable, has minimal maintenance cost, and has lower operating cost than your electric cart. In the future, you might want to think before typing.

When did you buy your first cart in The Villages? It was 2004 for me. The Villages sold electric then. They have always sold both. I'll bet they sell alot more gas than electric.

Interesting. I decided to switch to electric in 2014 and went to The Villages Golf Carts in Colony. I was told they do not provide electric carts and then gave me the fear sales talk for gas. When I said I was going electric they told me they couldn't help me. Knowing they were selling them is disappointing. They do sell more gas and I assume that won't change because of the fear factor. I also believe the fear factor had some validity at one time but that has changed. Electric's were horrible. No endurance and a pain to maintain the batteries. Thanks for the information.

Imagine for a moment if everyone switched to a gas cart. Now imagine that you are behind a line of gas carts in a tunnel or wherever. This place would be one huge, noisy stink hole.

:shocked: Probably like living near one of Florida's 15 coal fired electric plants. Over 20% of electricity in Florida is coal fired. 0% from cute hamsters turning little wheels. :(

I have kind of a funny story here on this subject.

A couple of years ago, Mrs. Trap took our golf cart out one morning and failed to notice that one of us had not plugged it in the previous night. The cart was less than half charged but she didn't notice. In the afternoon, after travelling quite a few miles, the cart ran out of power at our mail depot. She called me and I drove there in the car with the charger and a long extention cord. Mrs. Trap drove home in the car while I sat for about 45 minutes charging the cart using an outlet at the postal depot. Several people stopped and chatted very friendly like but ...

One lady saw me doing this and asked curtly what I was doing. I smiled and said that I always charge my cart at postal stations so I don't have to spend extra money on electricity at home. The lady got very upset and yelled as she took off she was going to call Community Watch on me! I still feel kind of bad for making her mad but all the others were very neighborly.

Deleted by Alan

I have a ten year old Par Car that I use for golf. It has the 8 six volt battery configuration and there has never been a problem with distance. I like that it is quiet on the golf course, goes along with the ambiance of the game.

That's a funny story. A good sense of humor goes a long way in this place!

There should be emission controls on Golf Carts, too much polution.

I saw at CES some years ago, a home charging station for an electric car which had a solar panel mounted on a pole, with connectors, battery pack to save electricity till needed. That is what we need.

Sorry for this but I can't resist:

How much POLLUTION is too much? Do you know the amount of pollutants put out by a golf cart vs. an average car. Do you realize that the state of Florida doesn't even inspect cars for emissions? What type of pollutants are they? Are they harmful? Do you know if there are some type of pollution devices on golf carts? Do you realize that the number 1 component of exhaust is water vapor and number 2 is carbon dioxide?

My apologies if you hold a Ph.D in environmental science with a specialty in atmospheric conditions and internal combustion engine exhaust, but I doubt it.

climate change denier:pepper2::D

Tickets could be sold for those events....

sort of like a circus sideshow

The EPA has had small engine emissions regulations in place for some time. Newer gas golf carts have fuel injection which improves gas mileage and therefore reduces emissions. Whether the regulations "go far enough" is open to debate. Regulations are always a compromise between what you want and what can be practically implemented.

Regarding solar power for charging a golf cart, I ran the numbers on this in another thread. While it is fundamentally a good idea to use renewable energy, you might also want to look at the economics. At current SECO electric rates (13 cents per kWh), a 200 watt panel (which will be roughly 2 feet by 4 feet in size) will save you about $40 per year in electric costs. It will also only generate enough power, on average, to provide you with 4-6 miles of travel per day. If you routinely travel more than that you would need more solar panels to keep your battery pack charged. It is possible that a setup with a solar panel, required electronics, storage battery, etc. will run $1000 but you will get a tax credit. I just don't see a payback plus solar panels are still in a deflationary stage with respect to costs.

Would the golf cart keep charging while you were driving it? And if so, would that charge be enough to replace what charge you used when driving?

Z

I understand the dilemma the OP was in. However, if the OP did not get permission from the district office prior to plugging in, then it could be considered illegal; petty theft (Unless there is some district policy that allows this.)? I know the OP, and probably most of us, would consider this particular scenario somewhat of an "emergency". But, if reported, this could have turned into an embarrassing event, and maybe an arrest. As a minimum, the OP should probably have called the district after the fact to offer some remuneration. Maybe it would be a good idea for a resident to talk to the district for a verbal blanket approval for future "emergencies" such as this one.

The original comment was about a solar panel at your house tied into a battery (to save the power) that could be used to recharge your golf cart (when you bring it home). What you are presumably referring to is a solar panel on the roof of your golf cart? If so, the numbers don't change as you can fit a 200 watt panel (perhaps a bit larger) on your roof. The average amount of power you will get from a 200 watt panel is about 800 watt-hours per day if the cart is outside all day. This is enough power for approximately 4-6 miles of travel. If that is the extent of your travels and the cart is outside all day (and in the sun, not under a tree) then the answer is yes. If you travel more than that you will need to plug in or your battery pack will slowly drain. Keep in mind that 800 watt-hours costs 10 cents from SECO.

Once while visiting, before we built our home, we rented an elect cart which was not fully charged when given to us. We had no clue. Ran out of power at SeaBreeze. We had an onboard charger and a 50 ft cord. We checked with the staff at SeaBreeze and they told us to go ahead and plug in using the outdoor outlet. I don't think they checked with a "higher power". They were just happy to help out.

On another note. We have 2 electric carts and have been told not to charge them for a short period. That actually diminishes the full charge capacity. When charging it drains the batteries first then takes several hrs to charge to full capacity. Therefore, a charging station would need to be used for several (4-5) hrs to really charge a golf cart.

The tesla charging stations are super high capacity and can charge the tesla in 45 minutes. Not at all the same type batteries or chargers.

Not exactly correct. Batteries are not drained first and then charged. You should plug in the charger after every use and let it shut itself off. You are correct in that partial charging should be avoided, if possible.

The solution to the problem I learned after nine years of dealing with an electric cart was to submit and buy a gas cart. It has a gas gauge which I do not let go below 1/2. I am also a equal opportunity cart owner. So if TV provides free electric charging stations for electric cart owners then i also want free gas filling stations for gas cart owners.

I just made a funny TV giving away free stuff. heck they most likely charge you double for the electric charge and also paying to park there

I'm not getting a charge out of this thread but it's a gas reading these funny comments!

And they should.