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Best lithium golf cart batteries on the market right now. Thinking of switching from lead-acid to lithium for your golf cart? You may be curious how these batteries compare and why one would be better than the other. In this week’s blog, we dive into battery history and cover the benefits of using lithium and things to consider when buying them. Then, we will outline some of the best lithium golf cart batteries currently available on the market.
Advances in Lead-Acid Battery Technology
Lead-acid batteries used in golf carts have become standardized in terms of form, fit, and function, and there are some options in terms of capacity that directly relate to mileage range. There are even watering systems built into the battery caps that reduce the work associated with adding water to your traditional lead-acid batteries. There are sealed lead-acid batteries, such as Gel and AGM, available for golf carts that eliminate the need to add water, but they have not been widely accepted due to some of their performance limitations.
Not to diminish the mighty lead-acid battery and all that it has provided, but the reality is that progress has been somewhat disappointing over the years.
What are the advantages of lithium batteries for golf carts?
Constant Power – Unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries run at full power during discharge, even when they are less than 5%. Low battery will not result in slow performance.
Lightweight – Lithium batteries are 50-60% lighter than their lead-acid equivalents. This makes them much easier to install. Plus, it increases your golf cart’s performance-to-weight ratio, allowing you to reach higher speeds with less effort.
Fast charging – Lithium batteries can be fully charged in 1-3 hours. This is a vast improvement over lead-acid batteries, which can take over 8 hours to fully charge.
Maintenance Free – No water needed and no acid residue clean up required. Just charge them and they are ready to go.
Safety – Most lithium batteries use Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4), a chemistry that is inherently safe. Additionally, Battery Management Systems (BMS) have been developed to regulate heat, eliminating the risk of overcharging and overheating.
Long life – Lithium batteries have a cycle life up to 10 times longer than lead-acid batteries.
Long service life – Lithium batteries have a very low self-discharge rate, which means they maintain a state of charge for longer when not in use.
Environmentally Friendly – Due to their shorter charge times and the fact that they contain less hazardous materials, lithium batteries are much better for the environment than lead-acid batteries.
Things to Consider When Buying a Lithium Battery for Your Golf Cart
Before you confirm a purchase, you’ll want to make sure you’re getting the right battery for you by keeping the following in mind.
battery capacity
Measured in Ah (amp-hours), the capacity of a battery is the amount of energy it can discharge in a single use. In other words, it’s how long the battery will last before it needs to be recharged. Almost all lithium batteries will easily cover you for 18 holes of golf. Some batteries, with an AH of around 100, can work for up to 36 holes.
Voltage
Voltage is basically the amount of electrical energy that your lithium battery has. 24V is a pretty standard amount of voltage for lithium golf cart batteries.
Dimensions
It is essential to check the dimensions of your golf cart battery mount before purchasing a new battery. If you choose a battery that is larger than your mount, you will have a very hard time keeping it secure. By comparing the dimensions of the cart mount to the size of the battery, you can make sure your new lithium battery will fit well.
Most lithium batteries are approximately (W) 160mm x (L) 250mm x (H) 200mm. Higher capacity batteries tend to be slightly larger. Generally speaking though, lithium batteries are nice and compact; they are a good fit for most modern golf carts.
Weight
Most lithium batteries weigh between 10 and 20 kg, a fraction of the weight of an average lead-acid battery. By using a lithium battery, its weight-to-performance ratio will increase considerably. However, you should be aware that higher capacity lithium batteries are a bit heavier than standard ones.
cycle life
Charge cycle life is basically the number of times a lithium battery can be charged before packing. When looking for a lithium battery, you should expect a lifespan of no less than 1500 cycles. If you were to play a round of golf every day, these batteries should last 4-5 years. Some lithium batteries have a lifespan of up to 8,000 cycles and can last up to 10 years.
Converting your golf cart to lithium ion
If you think switching from traditional to lithium-ion is difficult, you’re wrong, it’s actually very easy. All you have to do is take out your old batteries, put in your new 12-volt lithium-ion batteries, reconnect the cables, secure the batteries, and you’re good to go.
Lithium-ion batteries also tend to be smaller than traditional lead-acid batteries, so you may have some extra space under the seats.
Are Lithium Ion Golf Cart Batteries Expensive?
There’s no way around this, so I’m just going to say it. Lithium ion batteries are expensive. Much more expensive? Well, not much else…
A standard lithium-ion battery pack will set you back anywhere from $1,100 to $3,000. Sure this may sound like a lot, but honestly, it’s worth the money. These batteries will last you much longer, take less time to charge and will reduce the weight of your stroller.
The best lithium ion batteries for your golf cart
There are a number of major companies that manufacture quality lithium batteries for golf carts. It can be hard to choose from this huge selection, so we wanted to make things a little easier for you.
Advances in Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Technology with BSLBATT Battery
Although lithium batteries have solved many shortcomings of lead-acid battery technology, they have also created new challenges. Lithium batteries have created safety issues due to high heat generation, they include a Battery Management System (BMS) to protect the battery, but they can also cause unwanted power loss and their use can be complicated. At BSLBATT, we decided to design a product from scratch and remove all obstacles. The result is BSLBATT 48V Lithium Golf Cart Battery!
Interested in upgrading your golf cart, PTV, UTV, or LSV to lithium? Take a look at our BSLBATT Lithium Golf Cart Battery and get in touch online today. If you have any questions about lithium ion batteries or have experience using a lithium ion battery in your golf cart, please let us know in the comments below! Thank you for reading
Originally posted 2022-07-01 06:57:09.
