If you are looking at different electric golf carts and trying to find one that’s right for you, then you should ask yourself a few questions before making a decision.
What’s the Difference Between a Golf Cart and a NEV/LSV?
First of all, for those of you who don’t know, NEV stands for Neighbourhood Electric Vehicle but is also sometimes referred to as LSV Low-Speed Vehicle. Some of the differences of these include;
Max speed– Golf Cart: 15mph, NEV / LSV: 25mph+
A NEV has some added features, such as headlights, turn signals, mirrors, seat belts or VIN number. It can also be operated on roads with a speed limit of 35mph or less.
NEVs are essentially street-legal electric golf carts.
How Far Can a Street Legal Electric Vehicle Go On One Charge?
This will depend on the size and type of battery. Many electric golf carts will offer the option of lithium battery installation or solar panels, this is incredibly more efficient than a standard battery and can save time and money. For standard 48-volt systems with 8 6v battery electric golf cart, it will usually last for 40 miles on a single charge. This figure, however, can be raised to around 80 miles when driving on flat and even surfaces and not towing anything or carrying too much excess weight.
How Long Do the Batteries Take to Charge?
Due to the number of hours you can get out of an electric golf cart, they can take a considerable amount of time to charge, with the average taking between 6-8 hours to recharge from completely dead to fully charged. That is with a standard 110-volt charger. You can opt for fast-charge options, which can charge electric golf carts in as little as an hour.
Buying New Vs. Used?
When buying an electric golf cart one of the first decisions you need to make is if you are going to buy new or used. New is always the safest bet but isn’t financially possible for some.
Buying used electric golf carts is a viable option, especially because they can last for up to 8 years when properly taken care of.
If you are buying used, the most important thing to look out for is the battery – the same goes when buying any electric equipment. You should get a written warranty and ask about the batteries history. If they cannot provide you with either, it is best to avoid.
Size?
Other things to consider will be how many seats you need. Street legal electric golf carts can range anywhere between 2-6 people.