The working life of a golf cart battery varies depending on how you look after it.
Still, you can expect a good quality battery to last up to ten years.
Environmental conditions have a massive effect on the life of your golf cart battery. Heat is the enemy of batteries, so your battery will last longer if you live in cooler areas.
How Long Do Golf Cart Batteries Last?
You could get up to ten years or more from a good quality golf battery in a perfect world.
But who lives in a perfect world? Regular maintenance, the environment, the type of battery, and how often you use the golf cart all play a part.
Batteries on fleet golf carts that are well maintained, but have high usage, may last 4-6 years. The same battery on a privately owned golf cart could last 10 years, thanks to less intensive use.
If the fleet batteries are lithium-ion instead of lead-acid, the life could be 5 – 6 years, while a lead-acid battery might only last 2 – 2.5 years.
How Long Do 6-volt Golf Batteries Last?
A well-maintained 6-volt golf cart battery that is regularly recharged and not run too low will last around 5 – 7 years.
How Long Do 8-volt Golf Batteries Last?
As you increase the voltage of a deep-cycle golf cart battery, you reduce the amp hour rating. In simple terms, this means that the battery will not last as long between charges.
In addition, the 8-volt batteries will run into a deeper state of discharge than equivalent 6-volt batteries, reducing their life to about 4 – 6 years.
How Long Do 12-volt Golf Batteries Last?
Using 12-volt batteries will give you an even lower amp hour rating per battery, reducing their runtime compared to 6-volt and 8-volt equivalents. The increased deep discharge of 12-volt batteries reduces their life span to around 4 years.
How Long Do Golf Cart Batteries From Famous Brands Last?
Buying a well-known battery brand will generally give you a longer life between changes. But how do three of the top brands compare?
How Long Do Trojan Golf Cart Batteries Last?
Trojan brand 8-volt golf cart batteries will give you a working life of around 8 to 10 years before needing replacing.
See TROJAN T-105 here:
TROJAN T-105
How Long Do US Golf Cart Batteries Last?
Under ideal working conditions, expect around 6 to 8 years of life from a US 8-volt golf cart battery.
Buy U.S. US2200XC2 battery here:
U.S. US2200XC2
How Long Do Crown Golf Cart Batteries Last?
Crown CG2 type 8-volt golf cart batteries typically give around 7 years of practical working life, but this will depend on the maintenance and environmental conditions.
How Long Do Golf Cart Batteries Last On One Charge?
The time between charges will depend on the battery voltage, the age of the batteries, and how the golf cart is used.
A fully charged battery pack will give you between 45 and 90 minutes, with a 6-volt pack outlasting an 8-volt pack and a 12-volt pack going flat the quickest.
It would be best to have lower voltage batteries to provide the 48-volts that golf carts need.
A pack of eight 6-volt batteries contains far more lead and offers a higher amp-hour rating than the equivalent pack of four 12-volt batteries.
How To Care To Maintain A Long Battery Life?
The best way to increase the working life of your golf cart batteries is regular maintenance. Following the simple tips below will ensure you get the best from your batteries.
- Charge the Batteries Regularly. Leaving a battery partly discharged for long periods can seriously reduce its working life. Please make sure you regularly charge the batteries to their total capacity.
- Fluid Level. If the liquid level of lead-acid batteries needs topping up, make sure you only use purified or deionized water.
- Clean the Battery Terminals. The terminals on your battery can often get very dirty, and simply cleaning the grime and reattaching the terminals can help extend your battery working life.
- Fit the Correct Capacity Battery. The golf cart manufacturer will specify the amp-hour rating required for your cart. Ensure your batteries meet or exceed that minimum requirement for improved battery life.
See MODZ Max48 15 AMP, 36volt 18amp Golf Cart here:
MODZ Max48 15 AMP
36volt 18amp Golf Cart
FAQs
Can You Replace Just One Battery In A Golf Cart?
Yes, it is perfectly possible to replace just one battery in the pack. However, it may be a false economy. If the batteries in the package are the same age and one has failed, the others are probably approaching the end of their life. If you suspect one battery has been unable early, get the others tested.
If replacing all the batteries is out of your budget, consider fitting a used or re-manufactured item as a temporary measure. When possible, replace the complete pack.
Should I Leave My Golf Cart Plugged In All The Time?
Chargers have a built-in shut-off system that stops charging the batteries when they are fully charged. However, most manufacturers do not recommend leaving the battery charger connected continuously.
