Gas vs Electric Golf Carts
How to Choose Between a Gas Golf Cart and an Electric Golf Cart
Once you decide owning a golf cart will make your life better and your golf scores lower, your first decision is whether you’ll be better off with a gas-powered golf cart or an electric golf cart. There’s no right or wrong answer, only an estimation of which is more suited to your personal needs and preferences. Here, the tire experts at Treadworld tackle the gas vs. electric golf cart question by taking a quick look at the differences, and identifying the advantages and disadvantages of each, to help you make your best decision.
The Difference Between Gas Golf Carts and Electric Golf Carts
In most cases, the main difference is obvious—how the golf cart is powered, the drivetrain. Gas golf carts run on combustion engines—usually four-stroke, though some older model golf carts may have a two-stroke engine instead. They're fueled with gas like any car or truck via a traditional gas station fuel pump or by dumping in gas from a can. Electric golf carts run on battery cells. Most of them are 36-volt or 48-volt. The batteries need to be regularly recharged to ensure continued operation. When battery power fades, the cart's speed slows. Otherwise, with regard to the frame and tires, the two types of golf cart are the same.
Which Type of Golf Cart Has a Greater Range?
Electric golf carts typically get 15-40 miles per charge, depending on the battery model, while gas golf carts are generally good for more than double that, at around 120 miles per tank. Whether that discrepancy matters to you depends on how you’ll be using your cart. For instance, when you’re playing 18 holes of golf, 40 miles will get you around most courses 8-10 times.
Gas vs. Electric Golf Cart Speed and Performance Comparison
Though it’s close, generally an electric gas cart will reach a higher top speed than a gas golf cart without modifications—20 to 24 miles per hour compared to 18 to 20 miles per hour. There are questions regarding whether gas carts are more reliable on hills than electric carts, but the answers are not definitive due to many possible variables. Gas golf carts do generate more horsepower than electric, about three times as much, and so will generally perform better on rougher terrain. But electric golf carts are known to create more torque than gas cats, in theory at least, and should have little trouble navigating the hills you’ll encounter on a golf course.
Which Type Provides a Smoother, Quieter Ride?
No question that electric golf carts are quieter—virtually silent—and also don’t vibrate as much as gas powered golf carts, though most gas carts have only mild vibration. Electric carts also tend to run cooler, and emit no smelly exhaust fumes.
Does An Electric Golf Cart Cost More to Own than a Gas Golf Cart?
The perception in many areas is that an electric cart costs more to own than a gas cart, primarily due to the high cost of golf cart batteries. And it’s true, those batteries are fairly pricey, typically ranging from $650 to $1200. On the other hand, gas golf carts require routine maintenance similar to your car—oil, oil filter and spark plug changes, replacement parts and the like. Plus, of course, the cost of gas, especially currently, can be a deterrent. But even when gas prices are not through the roof, you’ll generally find that plugging into an outlet is better for your wallet than pumping gas.
Overall, Which Type of Golf Cart Is More Reliable?
This is not a big point of differentiation because both electric and gas golf carts are reliable. It is true that electric carts have fewer parts—around 20 times fewer (50 as opposed to 1,000)—which means they have fewer parts that can go bad, while with a gas cart you have clutches, carb, fuel pump, belts, valves, starter and more to maintain. If you do run out of juice on some remote part of the golf course, you’re likely going to find it easier to put some gas in your golf cart, than to carry a portable charger or find a recharging station—which, in any event, can take one to three—to ten hours.
Electric Carts Are Better for the Environment, Right?
Electric golf carts do not use gas and do not send carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, so that is a major plus.
Do Electric Carts Require Different Golf Cart Tires than Gas Carts?
No, as a general rule, you can put the same golf cart tires on an electric cart as you would on a gas cart—with your choice being determined by the terrain of the golf course and course rules. Both electric and gas carts require proper maintenance of tires for golf carts. Driving on poorly maintained tires—uneven treadwear, over- or under-inflated tires—poses safety issues for you, and additionally the wrong tread on your tires can damage the golf course—something course officials tend to frown on. Sawtooth tread golf cart tires are commonly used on golf courses, and provide a good combination of turf-saving characteristics and traction. A wide shoulder-design turf pattern tread golf cart tire can provide excellent traction along with a smooth ride, with minimal wheel slip. We haven’t mentioned solar powered golf carts here because they haven’t achieved the popularity of the other two styles—yet. They are relatively difficult to find, and they are relatively difficult to make, though you can find solar panels if you wish to convert your current cart to a solar golf cart.
Whether Electric or Gas, When You Need Tires for Golf Carts, Count on Treadworld
When it comes to golf cart tire replacement, or getting a spare golf tire, or new golf cart wheels and tires, count on us here at Treadworld to provide you with the high-performing, long-lasting tires for golf carts you want, in a wide range of golf cart tire sizes, styles and treads. All our RubberMaster Golf Cart Tires are manufactured to strict tolerances from top rubber compounds, then triple-tested for quality, balance and uniformity before being X-rayed to be sure they’re perfect. Easy ordering, fast shipping plus your satisfaction is guaranteed with our no-hassle Ultimate Advantage Warranty. We make changing golf cart tires easy. Don’t hesitate to contact our tire experts via live chat or email with any questions you may have, and to get the ideal tires for golf carts—or the perfect ATV tires, UTV tires, trailer tires, and many others—from our extensive selection.
