Golf carts are a convenient and simple way to transport yourself and your clubs around the golf course. There’s just something so fun about driving around the course in your cart that you can’t experience anywhere else.
Whether your golf cart takes gas or is fully electric, at some point you’ll have to replace the battery. But just how long will a golf cart’s battery last before it needs replacing?
Don’t worry, we’ve got the answers to all your questions right here.
This handy guide will take you through how long golf cart batteries last for, as well as some ways to extend your battery life and how often you should replace the battery in your golf cart. So let’s get started, shall we?
How Long Will Your Golf Cart’s Battery Last For?
On average, a golf cart’s battery will keep you going for anywhere between 5-10 years, though this can vary depending on how you treat your cart as well as the conditions it’s in. Using your golf cart more regularly will wear down your battery faster, as will mistreating and not maintaining it.
A well-maintained golf cart battery can last you a long time. That said, some factors that can reduce your battery’s lifespan are harder to avoid than simply mistreating your golf cart.
Rougher, hilly terrain will put more strain on your golf cart, and your battery will suffer as a result. If you’re using your golf cart on bumpier courses your battery is more likely to wear down faster.
Climate can also affect the lifespan of your golf cart battery. Just like any other battery, the ones in golf carts suffer when exposed to high and low temperatures or wetter climates. If you live in a climate where temperatures are frequently very hot or cold, your battery is probably going to need to be replaced sooner.
The same goes for wetter climates, where rain and other forms of humidity can damage your battery over time.
That said, you shouldn’t have to settle with replacing your battery every year or so. Even if you use your golf cart regularly or if you use it in rougher conditions, there are still several ways to help get the most out of your golf cart battery.
Can You Extend Your Golf Cart’s Battery Life?
Luckily, there are some ways you can improve your golf cart battery’s lifespan. While you will still need to replace your battery when it starts to fail or after the standard 5-10 years to keep your golf cart working at its best, these simple tricks will help the battery last longer (and save you money in the long run!).
When you’re charging your battery, overcharging it can actually harm its performance. Don’t leave your battery on charge after it reaches full, and take it off charge as soon as it hits full capacity.
Some chargers have a feature that automatically stops charging your golf cart battery as soon as it is at 100%. These can be a pricier option in terms of chargers, but will save you a lot in long-term costs if you don’t have to replace the battery as often.
Proper maintenance of your golf cart and its battery will also help it last longer. You should regularly check and clean your battery, making sure that the water level is at the right marker.
You also need to remember to use distilled water for your flooded batteries; regular tap water contains minerals and traces of chemicals that can cause the battery to overheat and die earlier than it should.
Completing some basic checks on your battery once a month will help you extend its lifespan, as well as keep you clued in on any issues the battery might be having.
Another way to keep your battery going for longer is to switch off any devices in the cart when you aren’t using them. Lights, radios, and heaters among other things will all drain the battery in no time, so avoid leaving these running when they aren’t needed.
On the flip side, not using your golf cart for a long period of time can also leave your battery worse for wear. While it might seem counterintuitive, if your golf cart is left switched off for weeks or months at a time your battery will be draining slowly but consistently in the meantime.
For newer batteries, you’ll just have to charge them back up. Older batteries, on the other hand, are at risk of dying completely if they aren’t used.
How Often Should You Replace a Golf Cart’s Battery (And How Much Does It Cost?)
You shouldn’t wait for your golf cart’s battery to completely die to replace the battery. When your battery is on its way out, it can have an impact on your golf cart’s performance and (by extension) your safety.
Speaking of performance, a sign that your golf cart battery needs replacing is if it takes longer to accelerate, and if the battery takes longer to charge and loses power faster than it used to.
Sticking to the standard 5-10 year period is a good benchmark, but if you notice your golf cart starting to suffer you might need to replace it sooner.
Keep an eye out for the warning signs of a failing battery, and replace your battery if needed. While your battery may seem fine after 10 years of use (which is more common if you take good care of your golf cart and/or don’t use it as regularly), you should still replace it to ensure the ongoing quality of your golf cart.
Golf cart batteries can cost anywhere from $800-$1500 depending on the model, size, and strength your golf cart requires. While this cost might not seem too high for maintenance that only takes place every few years, it can add up quickly if you end up replacing your battery more regularly.
The best way to save money on new batteries is to take good care of the one you have. By properly maintaining your battery and making sure that it stays in good condition, you can easily extend how long you can wait to replace it.
This will save you a ton in the long run, so don’t settle for a poorly maintained battery.
Conclusion
So now you know a bit more about how long a golf cart battery lasts, what you can do to make them last longer, and what you need to do when your battery finally gives out.
Following these simple steps will help you get the most out of your battery, and let you keep using your golf cart for years to come.
While your battery won’t last forever, as long as you take good care of it then you’ll be able to save a lot of hassle (and money) when it comes to replacing your golf cart’s battery.
After failing to hit a curveball, Ryan turned to golf more seriously as a teen. He played in high school in and around Scottsdale, Arizona before taking a break through college and his 20s. Today, Ryan spends his weekends playing Torrey Pines as a San Diego resident, working to chip away at his single-digit handicap.
While he's had great mentors along the way, much of Ryan's game improvement has been from study of the game itself. Ryan hopes to give these keys to success to other golfers through his work here at Better Golf Online.
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