Golf Cart Batteries: How Long Do They Last On One Charge?

You might be wondering, “how long do lithium golf cart batteries last on one charge?” Having the best quality battery is important. But avoiding decreasing battery health is also important.

Check all the information about it to get the right idea.

Golf Cart Battery Construction

A recharge golf cart battery is made in a certain way. But the power source can be different. There are lots of batteries of different types that you can get. It has a 4-stroke internal combustion engine. Some batteries also have a 48v or 36v electric DC or AC motor.

Different kinds of batteries are also available nowadays. Generally, you can find a battery-powered golf cart. There is also a gasoline-powered cart available in the market.

But having the gasoline one can be difficult. The reason is, it can be troublesome in many ways. It can create pollution. This one makes much noise. Also, it is not that safe.

So, for having those issues, people like to have the battery-powered one. It has several facilities that gasoline doesn’t have. It makes no such noise and no pollution. It is safe too.

So, for all the reasons, the battery-powered golf cart is suitable. But you should know all about the battery life and how long it lasts after being fully charged.

How long does it last?

How long the battery lasts after charging depends on how you use it. Having a good recharge golf cart battery is also important in this case. If you are using a new battery, it can last for about 25-40 miles after one charge.

The range might get up or down sometimes. And it depends on how the battery is made. The different battery has different configuration and voltage. So, depending on all of those things, the range can be
different. As the batteries are built with deep cycle lead-acid, they can keep the charge for a long time and work accordingly.

Read also: How Long Do BSLBATT Lithium Golf Cart Batteries Last?

How often should you recharge golf cart batteries?

The recharging period has no limit. Recharge the battery when it has no power left. It depends on the capacity and the type of battery.

That’s why the first thing is to know the type of battery you are having and then search according to it. But all you need to do is recharge the battery when it has no charge left. If you are using it every day, then you should recharge it every day. Charge it for about 8-10 hours. Overnight charging is better for you if you are a person who uses a golf cart every day.

Otherwise, you don’t need to recharge it daily if you are not a regular user. Know your situation and work depending on it.

Things That Affect Golf Cart Batteries’ Lifespan Overcharging

One of the main killers of golf cart battery lifespan is the act of overcharging the batteries. This is basically when the charger continues to pump power into the battery even when it is fully charged, over-cooking the internals. If this becomes a regular habit, it will drastically affect the lifespan of the battery.

Fortunately, most chargers are now automatic, meaning that they are programmed to switch off whenever the battery reaches full charge. Assuming that nothing goes wrong with the charger or power supply, this means that you don’t have to worry about overcharging.

However, many chargers don’t have an automatic switch-off function, in which case it is highly recommended to use some sort of alarm clock. By ensuring that your golf cart batterys never overcharge, you’ll be giving them a much better chance of lasting you for longer.

Maintenance

Maintenance, or lack thereof, is also one of the biggest contributors to a battery’s lifespan. The main thing to consider is that the batteries need to be watered regularly – once a month, at least. And it’s absolutely crucial that you use DISTILLED water, NOT tap water. Tap water will do all kinds of damage. You should also make sure that they are fully charged before checking them and filling them up.

Battery maintenance also includes cleaning. Over time, you may notice a build-up of corrosion around your battery terminals. This should be cleaned as soon and as thoroughly as possible in order to prevent significant damage. For more information on how to clean golf cart batteries, check out this guide.

Other practices of good battery maintenance are related to the manner in which you charge them. As a general rule, you should recharge your batteries every time they are used. Leaving them empty for long periods of time isn’t good for them. Going through a regular cycle of discharge and charge is healthy for a battery, and will help to prolong its lifespan.

Also, be sure to charge them in a well-ventilated area. This will prevent them from overheating.

Brand / Quality Of The Battery

As with most things, when it comes to golf cart batteries, you pretty much get what you pay for. Sure, there are some budget options out there that are more than capable of lasting for a number of years. But if you really want a battery that could last you for as long as ten years, you’re probably going to need to fork out some of the bigger bucks. For a round-up of the best golf cart batteries for longevity and price, click here.

Frequency Of Use

Some golf carts are used much more frequently than others, and this inevitably has an influence on the batteries’ longevity. The battery packs of golf cart fleets get a much higher usage – usually two to three rounds of golf per day – than the average, privately owned golf cart. If properly maintained, the batteries of these fleet carts tend to last about 4-6 years.

A privately owned golf cart that is used for an average of three rounds a week is likely to last longer than this, simply because the battery is being used less. The batteries of privately owned golf carts can be expected to last between 6 and 10 years.

Storage

If you’re storing your golf cart battery away for long periods of time, make sure you keep it somewhere cool. Long exposure to hot temperatures will have a deadly impact on your battery’s longevity.

While cooler temperatures are undoubtedly best for battery storage, you’ll want to avoid storing it where freezing temperatures are expected. It’s also recommended that you monitor your batteries’ voltage every six weeks or so and that you give them a boost charge when they are at 70% charge or less. For more information on golf cart battery storage, check out this BSLBATT article.

How Long Do Golf Cart Batteries Last?

Considering all of the above, how long can you expect your battery to last?

Let’s look at a worst-case scenario. If you buy a cheap battery, frequently overcharge it, neglect its maintenance, and store it incorrectly, you would be lucky to get three years out of it.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you buy a quality battery, adhere to a good charging routine, frequently clean it and manage its water levels, use it less than five times a week on average, and store it in cool temperatures, there’s no reason why you couldn’t get ten years out of it.

That little bit of extra care could save you hundreds of dollars infrequent battery replacements.

Final Thoughts

Deep-cycle lithium batteries are complicated devices, and there are a number of factors affecting their longevity. It’s impossible to say for sure exactly how long one will last. But if you buy from a reputable brand, and take good care of it, you can easily enjoy up to ten years of use out of a single battery.