How To Tell if Your Electric Golf Cart Needs a New Battery

Golf carts are great utility vehicles with endless opportunities for use. You can drive your cart recreationally around the golf course, use it for chores or relaxation around your yard, or operate it on a professional level. No matter how you use your golf cart, you can get a lot of literal and metaphorical mileage out of it.

As technology improves, so do golf carts. Many older carts use lead-acid batteries, which offer an excellent power level, but require more maintenance and don’t last as long as many modern lithium battery packs. Most modern electric golf carts use these lithium batteries that last for many years and require little upkeep or work on the driver’s part. However, it’s essential to be able to tell if your electric golf cart needs a new battery. If you notice any of these common symptoms of battery breakdown, you may need to replace the battery pack as soon as possible.

You Have Trouble Charging It

Many signs that you may need to replace your battery are apparent from driving your cart around. However, you may notice one as early as the battery is on the charging station. As batteries start to age and wear down, charging them becomes a slower and more difficult process. If you hook your golf cart up to the charger and it seems like it’s taking longer to get the energy it needs, that’s not a good sign.

Older batteries get juice at a slower rate, and in some more serious cases, they may not even be capable of reaching a maximum charge anymore. Paying attention to the power levels on your charger may help you identify this common sign of battery aging and take appropriate action. You want to spend as little time as possible at the charging station and more time actually driving your golf cart around.

Your Charge Drains Rapidly

When it comes to your electric golf cart's battery charge, you may notice the opposite side of the same coin. It's frustrating to see your battery take forever to charge, but equally annoying to see it drain faster than it used to. If you used to be able to get a full day's work out of your golf cart and use it for six to eight hours but now find it struggling to last two or three hours without needing charging, that's a common sign that you may need to replace the battery soon.

Understanding the limitations of your golf cart and paying attention to how much use you can typically get out of it can help a lot. Being able to identify when your golf cart isn’t lasting as long as usual can help you catch this problem early and swap out the battery before it becomes too severe. Different makes and models of golf carts have differing runtimes, so it’s always a good idea to understand what’s considered standard for your specific cart.

Slower Acceleration

One of the more subtle ways to tell if your electric golf cart needs a new battery is by observing the acceleration speed. Does it seem like your cart isn’t getting the same amount of power that it used to? Do you find yourself having to push down harder on the pedal to reach what should be a standard speed? Your golf cart may suffer from a lack of power where it can’t reach the same levels it used to, or it may take longer to gain that same level of momentum through acceleration.

Simply put, your golf cart just isn't sending enough juice to the rest of the golf cart, and it's noticeably weaker because of it. Not only is a sluggish golf cart relatively annoying, but it may limit your usual capabilities. Weaker golf carts may struggle to haul similar weights from cargo or passengers, and you may notice you can’t go up hills as easily as you once could. If you notice your golf cart losing power, it may be time to consider replacing the battery.

Physical Damage

You may not encounter this one as often, but it’s always a good idea to watch out for physical battery damage. You may damage the battery through something as simple as dropping it when transporting it or putting it into storage. However, not all physical damage comes from mishandling or human interaction.

Many factors, including time, temperature, humidity, and weather, can affect the physical condition of your battery and result in damage that may prompt you to replace the battery. Some more common signs you may notice are warps, cracks, or bulges. The chemical reaction in lithium batteries may eventually create gases that cause expansion. This process is known as outgassing, and it's a natural part of battery degradation.

If you ever notice any leaks from your lithium battery, replace it immediately.

Note the Warranty

Many lithium battery packs come with manufacturer warranties that make it less of a hassle to replace them in the event of any of these problems. In a fortunate case, your battery may still be under the initial warranty, and the manufacturer will replace it for you. However, battery packs typically can last several years, so it's worth checking the date. If you notice any of these problems and see that your battery is well past the warranty date, we recommend replacing it. Paying close attention to how long your battery lasted before encountering issues may give you a rough idea of what type of future warranty you should invest in.

To learn more about golf carts and other utility vehicles, Ben Nelson is here for you. We’re a proud and supportive dealership of new and pre-owned vehicles from a wide range of models and manufacturers. If you’re looking for an E-Z-GO electric golf cart, stop by one of our dealerships to see what we have in stock. Check out our blog posts for helpful tips on how to take care of your golf cart, or contact us anytime if you have any specific questions, comments, or concerns. A trained, friendly member of our staff will be happy to help you.