Lithium-ion golf cart batteries: A step in the right direction

Lithium-ion golf cart batteries: A step in the right direction
Golf is a popular sport across the world. With golf courses spread over acres and acres of land, golf carts are used by millions of golfers. As any golf art owner would tell you, the most important thing about a golf cart is its battery. What a fuel tank is to an automobile, a battery is to a golf cart.

For the longest time, golfers had been used to spending a lot of time and energy for the upkeep of deep cycle lead acid batteries in their cart. Over the last few decades though there has been a noticeable shift to lithium-ion batteries. Lithium ion battery manufacturers are thus doing their best to keep up with the increasing demand for such batteries.

The growing preference for lithium-ion batteries is not without reason. They offer many significant advantages over their lead acid counterparts. They are as follows:

Lightweight and efficient
As seasoned golfers know, an uphill climb with a lead acid battery powered cart is an ordeal, because such carts may lose power and move very slowly when going uphill. But such is not the case with any lithium-ion battery such as 48v 20ah lithium-ion battery, 36V Lithium golf cart battery or 48v 100ah lifepo4 battery for golf carts.

Since these batteries are a fraction of the weight of lead acid batteries, it has a significant power-to-weight ratio advantage. As a result, a good lithium-ion battery such as 48 volt lithium-ion forklift battery has power on demand, regardless of the level of charge or terrain it is coursing through. Two average sized adults (or their equivalent) can be carried fast on lithium-ion powered carts at full efficiency before they are completely discharged.

Further, the efficiency of the vehicle also improves manifold as a lightweight cart puts less pressure on the brakes. This increases longevity of the brakes and improves performance over the long run.

Saving time and cost on maintenance
Those who have used deep cycle lead acid batteries will know the hassle associated with the maintenance of such batteries. For a lead acid battery to yield its full performance, a fully saturated charge for 14 to 16 hours is a must.

Further, such batteries must be charged at moderate temperature at all possible times to avoid deep discharges. Furthermore, they must be always checked for dangerous acid leaks to avoid accidents. Even with regular maintenance, a lead acid battery is likely to be replaced in 5 years.

On the other hand, lithium-ion batteries provide a big relief on the entire maintenance front. Since there is no acid in lithium-ion batteries there is chance of spills. Further, you only need to charge them for a maximum of 2-3 hours, and they provide full performance till they are fully discharged. With zero-maintenance a quality lithium-ion golf cart battery easily lasts up to 8-10 years.

Thus, if price is a deterrent to go in for a lithium-ion battery in the first place, be rest assured you will save big time on costs as compared to lead acid batteries.