Reduces Weight of Your Golf Cart
It should come as no surprise that standard sealed lead acid (SLA) batteries are incredibly heavy. And the longer you want your battery to last, the heavier the unit will be. These batteries make even the zippiest light-weight golf cart incredibly heavy. And the heavier your golf cart is, the slower it’ll move across the course. Worse, if you’re playing on damp turf, the cart will sink in. No one wants to be responsible for leaving tire tracks on the fairway. Lithium golf cart batteries are much lighter. This makes your golf cart easier to maneuver and helps you reach a comfortable speed faster. As an added bonus, lighter golf carts need less power to move. Less power means less drain on the batteries, so you can expect a longer-lasting charge cycle with each use.
Lasts Longer Over Time
All batteries, whether SLA or lithium, can get charged a set number of times before they start losing their ability to hold a charge. The more you use the battery, the less charge it holds. This means you’ll need to plug the golf cart in more often once the batteries reach their maximum number of charge cycles. So, what exactly counts as a charge cycle? One cycle is when the battery goes from fully charged to completely empty. After several hundred charge cycles, the battery will stop charging to 100 percent. The more you use the battery, the lower its total capacity gets. Lithium batteries handle more charge cycles than SLA models, letting you get more out of each unit.
No More Maintenance
When you bought your golf cart, you probably thought the only maintenance you’d need to do would be to the cart itself. But if you have SLA batteries, you’ll need to maintain them as well. These batteries need to get topped off with distilled water every few months. If the cells in the battery go dry, the battery stops holding a charge. Though it only takes a few minutes to service your batteries, it’s still time you’re spending away from the golf course. Lithium batteries are virtually maintenance-free. All you need to do is inspect the connections and clean them as needed. This means less time tinkering and more time perfecting your swing.
They’re Eco-Friendly
Once you’re ready to replace your batteries, you can recycle them. But some batteries are harder to recycle than others. Lithium batteries are easier to recycle and put less strain on the environment. This means they’re the most eco-friendly battery type on the market! All you need to do is find a licensed battery recycling drop-off location.
No Risk of Acid Spills
SLA batteries are full of corrosive acid. It’s part of what makes the battery hold a charge and produce electricity that your golf cart uses to run. If the battery leaks or the casing corrodes, you’ll have to face an acid spill. These spills are hazardous to the components of your golf cart, the environment, and your health. And the only way to prevent them is to keep the batteries properly charged and stored at all times. For most golf cart owners, that’s not an option. After all, you’re out on the course using the cart, not storing it for weeks at a time. Quality lithium batteries don’t contain the same acids as standard SLA models. They have protected cells that generate the power you need. This means you won’t expose yourself to the chemicals inside even when you inspect them for wear and tear.
Cheaper Per Hour of Use
As we said earlier, lithium batteries can go through more charge cycles than SLA batteries. This means they last longer. And the longer your batteries last, the less you’ll spend on replacements. Over the life of the battery, you’ll spend far less on maintenance costs. But that’s not all. Lithium batteries are more efficient. Their charges tend to last longer. And the less you have to charge your batteries, the less you’ll pay on your electrical bill!
More Power Means More Speed
A lithium golf cart battery has more power than a comparably sized SLA battery. What this means for your golf cart is a huge improvement in speed and power. The more power your batteries give your engine, the easier it is for the cart to navigate uneven terrain. And when you’re on the flat, that same power means you’ll go faster without draining your batteries as quickly!
Less Vulnerable to Temperature Changes
If you’re a year-round golfer, you need the cart to work in all weather conditions. This includes freezing temperatures. But some batteries drain faster in cold weather. This means you could find yourself stranded on the back nine. By upgrading to a lithium battery, you’ll have to worry less about the weather. Lithium cells work well in all temperatures. And though you might see a slight decrease in power in extreme conditions, you’ll still make it through your round before having to plug in.