Electric VS Gas Golf Cart – Which One Is Better?

The golf cart is the most important entity for all golfers because they have to carry and move lots of golf gear while completing the holes in the course. While you go to the market to buy a golf caddy, you will see three types: pull-push, gas, and electric cart. Golfers can quickly get a suitable model when they want to pay for a pull-push cart. But the main problem arises when they think of a power-driven coach. As the price of the power caddy is more or less similar, golfers become confused about which will be perfect for them. This discussion discusses all facts related to the electric vs. gas golf cart. The answers to the queries on the electric and gas-powered caddy will help eliminate all of your confusion. You can quickly decide which one will be the best for enjoying your game of golf. Let’s go with the article we are preparing for your assistance.

How does the gas-powered golf cart work?

Generally, A traditional four-cycle combustion engine is the primary power source for a gas-powered golf cart. You can fill your cart’s gas chamber with regular automobile gas or use a gas cylinder from any fuel pump. However, some old cart models use a two-stroke combustion engine for driven the cart.

Benefits of the gas golf cart

1. Availability of the gas pump station

Nowadays, you can operate a fuel station efficiently near and after passing a certain distance. So there is no chance of being out of gasoline while playing golf or doing any other job using the gas caddy.

2. Multipurpose use

Most golfers use their golf carts to do daily tasks like shopping in the nearby market and visiting neighbors. Besides, sometimes they go out for a long drive for a hangout because they can quickly refuel the engine as a requirement of refueling. The more amazing thing is that you can run more or less 200+ miles with a regular-sized gas cylinder.

3. Energy-efficiency

The four-stroke engine of the gas caddy is more power-efficient than an electric cart battery. So you can move more time with it comparing the battery-powered cart. Not only the long run time, but you can also go faster with your gas cart.

4. Durability

The gasoline-powered carts are more durable than any electric cart used for golfing. Most producers use long-lasting and high-quality construction materials for their cart models. That’s why it can tolerate a massive load.

Drawbacks of a gas golf cart

1. Alarming for the environment

The cart uses gasoline to produce energy for running, creating a dangerous carbon-mono-oxide gas smell. Carbon monoxide emissions are risky for human health and pollute the environment. And this environmental pollution through carbon gases and residues causes a severe problem of global warming. Besides, it emits a nasty burning smell to produce power for running the cart.

2, Sound pollution

While the four-cycle engine of the gas cart starts to work, it produces more annoying sounds that hamper the silence of the surroundings. The sound also breaks the concentration of the other golfers playing on the same course.

3. Maintenance cost

However, the gas-powered caddy must be sent to the service center twice a year. But at that time, you must examine most engine parts like the carburetor, fuel pipes, oil tank, etc. You may also have to change one or more engine body parts which may be too expensive.

Related: Golf Cart Accessories

How does the electric golf cart work?

The manufacturers incorporate rechargeable lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries with cables in the engine design of their electric golf cart models. These batteries produce the energy through which the engine gets starting power and run smoothly towards its destiny. The power of the batteries may be 36V or 48V. It depends on the structure of the cart and the speed rate that the producers want to input as feedback on their cart pattern. Some improved tracking systems include designing carts because most electric carts have a remote control device for operating them. Besides, the battery-powered cart has switches for towing and pushing it to the targeted distance. Every golfer should remember the most crucial thing to recharge the cart battery regularly to get sufficient energy to run the cart engine. And they must recharge the battery before it goes below 20% or out of charge.

Benefits of an Electric golf cart

1. Environment-friendly

The SLA or lithium-ion battery used for running an electric golf caddy does not emit any toxic gaseous substances in the environment while producing energy. So using an electric cart while golfing saves the swing practice time from wasting for moving golf gear, but it also sounds for our environment.

2. Rechargeable battery

The battery incorporates in the electric cart design is rechargeable. So you can quickly charge your cart battery overnight because generally, golf is playing in the daytime. Besides, as you can set it when needed, you don’t search for a fuel pump on the way to the course.

3. Easy and inexpensive to maintain

Every pack of cart batteries has a specified life span, and the manufacturers state this information in the package. So you can easily guess when you have to change your cart batteries. Therefore, you have to spend a certain amount of money after 3 or 4 yrs because most cart batteries may be lead-acid or lithium-ion and last more or less 3 to 4 yrs after starting energy production. To maintain the sound health of the cart battery, you have to recharge it in a timely and are concerned about its out-of-charge or zero charges level. Besides, it does not consume more electric power when you attach it to your traditional or house power system through the battery charger. So it does not include higher your ultimate electric bills.

4. Highly powered

When the producers start to produce electric caddies, they use batteries having 36V. But with time, the technology is improved, and now most electric carts manufacture with 48V batteries, which increase their running time. Now, you can play freely without any stress about operating your electric cart because a 48V battery option can produce enough energy to complete the 27 holes course.

5. Quiet

When an electric cart moves throughout the course area, it does not make awkward sounds like a gas cart. It goes silently as the user command to move to another place. That’s why it does not hamper other golfers’ attention on their swinging target.

6. Additional features

Most battery-powered carts have different settings like digital displays for distance measurement, battery level, cameras, and improved remote control devices. These additional facilities allow you to play and walk freely throughout the golf course. You don’t tolerate any hassle in carrying and moving your weighted golf bags and clubs.

Drawbacks of an electric golf cart

Like other electronic power-producing devices, the electric golf cart also has some features that may cause trouble while using it. Some of the demits of the electric golf cart are –

• The users require some technical knowledge to operate it safely.
• As the price of the battery is comparatively high, that will be tremendous pressure for maintenance costs.
• You have to take good care of your cart battery and wait for replacement up to its lifespan.
• It can go out of battery charge at any time if you will not check the charge level regularly or before starting the journey to the golf course.
• As the battery is attached to the design, you can’t remove it for recharging from anywhere.
• As the battery has a specific ability to produce energy, you can’t go too far with your electric cart.

Comparison of the electric and gas-powered golf cart

Which golf cart will be better – gas-powered or electric models?

Many factors create a difference between electric and gas-powered golf carts. And these variations help users choose their golf car design to suit their necessity and the paying capability. These factors are below.

1. Price

There is not so much variation in the price tag for an electric and gas golf cart. The price of these two kinds of golf caddies depends on their design, brand, provided facilities, and accessories, etc. You can take anyone from these two types of cart models as your budget. There is also a facility to buy your new caddy from the carts for sale, maybe an electric or gas cart. But if you want to pick the used model, you must be more careful while choosing them. You must have to check every single setting of the used cart before pay for it. In this case, it will be more challenging to pick the right one for an electric caddy because it is tough to check the battery condition of a used electric cart. On the other hand, examining a gasoline-powered cart’s gas cylinder condition and other fittings is easier. So which one you will purchase for your golf ultimately depends on your choice; you must choose it carefully.

2. Strength

Regarding strength, the gas cart is more powerful than an electric cart. Because how much time the coach will run depends on the battery’s amount of fuel or charge. Usually, the electric caddy has a 36V or 48V battery for producing running power. On the other hand, the size of the gas cylinder depends on the cart size and capacity to tolerate energy. You can refuel your cart at any time from the gas station or fuel pump house on the way or near your home. But you will have to wait for a long time to recharge your cart battery.

3. Durability

Generally, a gasoline cart works through gasoline combustion and slowly releases energy through the sophisticated cable. So if the manufacturer uses high-quality construction materials, it lasts for an extended time. On the other hand, the durability of an electric cart mostly depends on the battery used to construct it. In this case, the lithium-ion battery is more durable and safe than the sealed lead-acid battery. Besides, every battery pack has a specific running period. And you also have to take good care of it. Otherwise, it will lose its energy-generating capability.

4. Speed

Usually, an electric golf caddy can go faster than a gas-powered one. You can pass more or less 20-24 miles per hour with a fully charged electric cart. On the other hand, you can run around 18-20 mph with a full fuel tank of your gas golf caddy engine. Besides, there are many possibilities to upgrade the speed of an electric golf car, whereas you can’t upgrade your gas cart not so much. However, the 48V electric caddy has more torque. But if you also want to use your golf cart to do your household jobs, then the gas cart will be perfect because the gasoline cart can tolerate more load than an electric caddy.

Furthermore, the runtime or range you want to cross by your golf car is essential. Your gasoline cart can run around 120 miles when your gas tank is full. Alternatively, you can pass only 30 to 40 miles with a full-charged cart battery. And it’s a big difference between these two cart types. But the more exciting thing is that generally, most golfers move only 5-10 miles a day. So which cart you will choose for you depend on your purpose of use.

5. Pollution

It is a universal fact that when you burn carbon particles through petroleum gas, diesel, or any liquid gas for producing energy, it pollutes our environment by emitting carbon-di-oxide carbon-monoxide gases. Besides, it emits a foul smell which may cause a suffocating feeling for the driver. That’s why the gas-powered caddy is more dangerous for our natural world. Conversely, the electric golf car is eco-friendly because the lithium-ion or lead-acid battery generates energy in a sealed condition. So it does not emit any smell or dangerous gaseous particles in the air. That’s why an electric golf caddy is safer for our environment than a gasoline caddy.

6. Noise level

In sound creation, the electric cart is preferable to the gas-powered cart because an electric caddy can run quietly, whereas an advanced gas cart generates even a little bit of sound while starting the combustion. The electric cart can start moving without causing any sound or vibration. This feature allows a golfer to cross the other golfers silently with their electric golf caddy. Conversely, the gas-powered cart produces a sound and emits a certain amount of heat that the passenger can feel when sitting on the seat above the engine. Moreover, the creation of sound increases with the cart’s time. Sometimes, it also produces fumes while the engine starts running towards the target.

7. Maintenance

The operational cost of a gasoline-powered cart is too much more than an electric cart because different parts like spark plugs, drive belts, fuel filters, etc., of the gas cart need to be replaced after a certain period of use. But you have to replace your cart battery after 4 to 6 yrs if you use an electric caddy for playing golf and doing other personal chores. If you take good care of your cart battery, you can also higher its replacing time. Besides, the gas prices are higher than the cost of the unit of electricity. And it would help if you had a little electric power for recharging your cart battery. The fuel requirement increases with the miles, you run your gas-powered caddy. So the regular maintenance cost is a significant factor in choosing the best-suited cart for golfing.

8. Additional attributes

With the improvement of the technology, most cart brands incorporate additional but optional features on their cart design. These features allow you to upgrade your cart status and increase your expense for your favorite cart model. However, it ultimately depends on whether you will go with these optional attributes or not. You can avoid expending more dollars on upgrading your cart, maybe electric or gas-powered.

Is a gas or electric golf cart better?

Wrap Up

From the above discussion, we hope you can realize the difference between using an electric vs. gas-powered golf cart. So which type of cart, electric or gas-powered, you will go entirely depends on your budget and choice. We also see that both cart types’ prices are more or less the same. Not only the price tags but you will also get some advantages and disadvantages while using them. Therefore, it’s your decision on which cart design you will pay for your game of golf.