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A Guide to Deciding Between Electric and Gas Golf Carts

  • By Admin
  • •
  • 04 Apr, 2017
Golf Cart Repair — Golf Cart With Golf Club in Reno, NV
When purchasing a new golf cart, one of the first decisions you'll need to make is whether you want a gas or electric cart. Each type has its own benefits and is the better choice in certain situations. Here's a look at the advantages of gas and electric golf cars and when you might opt for one type over the other.

Electric Golf Carts Are More Environmentally Friendly

If your primary concern is how using your new golf cart will impact the environment, the clear choice is an electric golf cart. While there are many fuel-efficient gas models available, even the most efficient gas-powered cart still requires burning some fossil fuel. In contrast, electric carts can be charged with electricity that's both renewable and non-polluting.

For example, you can purchase an electric cart and charge it with electricity that's generated by wind power. No gas cart will offer the same ability to run using 100-percent clean energy.

Gas Golf Carts Don't Need to Be Recharged

Unlike electric golf carts that must be recharged for a few hours whenever the battery is drained, gas golf carts never need to be recharged. When the fuel tank gets low, you simply need to refill it, which takes only minutes.

Not needing to recharge a golf cart is a significant benefit in certain situations. You won't want to wait while a golf cart recharges if:

  • You have kids who want to use the golf cart all day long
  • An electrical source isn't available where you store your cart
  • You want to go several miles to town and back without waiting

Gas Golf Carts Are More Mechanically Intuitive

If you're a do-it-yourselfer and have some basic automotive knowledge, getting a gas golf cart may help keep your long-term maintenance costs low. If you're comfortable working on cars, you should be able to perform basic maintenance and repairs on a gas golf cart. Their engines are simpler than cars, and gas carts don't have any electrical batteries to deal with.

Over the course of a cart's life span, the amount you may save by performing maintenance yourself could add up to a significant sum. Just having an annual tune-up done will cost several hundred dollars after a few years of use. If you're able to do a tune-up yourself, this is money you could keep.

Electric Golf Carts Have Simple Engines

On the other hand, an electric golf cart may be the better choice if you don't like working on vehicles or have no automotive knowledge.
While it may seem counterintuitive because many do-it-yourself mechanics aren't familiar with electric engines, electric engines are actually simpler than gas ones. Electric engines have fewer moving parts, which means there are fewer parts that can break. They also don't require gas, so you don't have to worry about draining or stabilizing fuel each season.

If you're going to be paying someone else to perform all the maintenance and complete all the repairs your cart needs, owning an electric model will be cheaper overall. You'll eventually need to replace the battery. You won't need to do this for several years, though, and new batteries can usually be had for between $65 and $250. The cost of maintaining a gas cart will be more.

Electric Golf Carts Offer Silent Operation

Noise usually isn't people's primary concern when they're buying a golf cart, but it is a significant consideration in certain situations.
If you'll be using the golf cart in an area where noise is regulated or to go watch wildlife, an electric cart will better serve you. Electric carts offer silent operation, which is something gas carts aren't able to do.

(Should you have teenagers whom you don't want taking your cart for a joyride at 3:00 a.m., you might actually want a cart that makes noise. In this case, go for a gas model -- maybe even an old one that has a loud motor.)

For help finding an electric or gas golf cart that will best suit your needs, contact us at Sierra Golf Carts & Auto.
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