[Lone Traveller]

Please help me correct or verify a possible misconception I’ve created in my own mind. “Electric golf carts are naturally slower than gas golf carts.” I know we live in a nation of speed, speed, speed, so wanting something slow seem un-American I think I’ll feel; more comfortable behind the wheel of something slower. I don’t want to stir up a hornets’ nest about pollution, battery acid on driveway, or difference in distance traveled between a full tank of gas and a full charge. I’ve read about those on other threads. I’m only concerned with speed at the moment.

[redwitch]

From what I can tell, their speed is pretty equal but it does seem the gas carts are the more "souped up" by owners. But, if left at factory standards, I'd guess the speeds were comparable.

[Peachie]

Redwitch, I think some gas carts go a little faster if you have a slightly increased tire size without any "souping". I don't know if larger tires on electric carts do the same thing, I would imagine they would do the same thing. We had a gentleman in The Villages install a speedometer on our cart so we would stay within the limits. I'm sure there are "soupers" too. Hope this helps, Lone...

[renielarson]

From what I've read speed is comparable although gas carts take hills better than electric ones.

[WLAN56]

Guess that I might as well throw in my 2 cents having just gone through the pains of buying our 1st golf cart.

Non-street legal carts, gas or electric, normally leave the sales room/shop set to go 20mph (+/- 0.05mph) by law in FL. A gas cart can be set higher a little easier. But this is illegal and a big no-no. But being Villagers, some people just can't resist the urge to do it. In fact, a salesmen I spoke with actually told me how to do it. Shame on him. The electric cart can also be set to a higher speed by changing the motor controller. This may be a little harder to do for a none technical person.

Street legal carts are set to go 25mph (+/- 0.5mph) when they leave salesroom/shop. They can also be reset as in the above.

As to larger diameter tires. If a wheel travels 1 foot in one revolution (per second) and you double the diameter so that it travels 2 feet in one revolution (per second) you are essentially doubling the mph of the cart. Any engineers out there?

But the law still applies. 20mph is still the same, big tires/small tires.

[Ooper]

I have an electric cart with a speedometer. I can easily cruise at the speed limit and often pass gas carts doing 15 or 16 mph. It does slow down a bit going uphill... but for quiet driving and non of the smelly fumes from gas exhausts, I much prefer the elctric carts.

[zcaveman]

Originally Posted by brightspot01

From what I've read speed is comparable although gas carts take hills better than electric ones.

The new EZGO RXVs take the hills as as fast as the gas carts. They have a regenerative motor system to let them maintain the speed. It works great!!

For those of you that do not think we have hills, any incline on the roadway will decrease the speed of the cart until you think you are at a crawl. Tunnel inclines are really bad!