[JoMar]

Originally Posted by CWGUY

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.

[Walter123]

Originally Posted by looneycat

not so old tech as I have seen 3 electrics dead on path sides in the last week, at least 2 were current models. if you are going from charlotte to the sharon, or savannah center plus other shopping it can easily happen, in fact it is the reason many switched to gas since the villages has grown so much.

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.

[CWGUY]

Originally Posted by Walter123

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.

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.

[Sandtrap328]

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.

[ajbrown]

Deleted by Alan

[Chi-Town]

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.

[Walter123]

Originally Posted by Sandtrap328

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.

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

[Bavarian]

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.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Bavarian

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

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.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

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

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by RickeyD

Chair saving is nothing compared to the fuel fistfights that would ensue.

Tickets could be sold for those events....

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by kcrazorbackfan

Tickets could be sold for those events....

sort of like a circus sideshow

[tuccillo]

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.

Originally Posted by Bavarian

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.

[tuccillo]

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.

Originally Posted by Bavarian

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.

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by tuccillo

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