As the cold winter months start to give way to spring weather, millions of golfers across the U.S. will head out to their favorite course for a round of 18 holes or a quick 9. Golf course managers will have their hands full, trying to keep their fleet of golf carts running safely and smoothly.
This is the time of year that puts the biggest demand upon the batteries that power your golf carts. This is why it’s essential to pay attention to the little signs that could indicate a battery is about to die.
Read on to learn more about the five biggest signs that a golf car battery will need replacing sooner than later.
1. Lack of Power - When you put the pedal to the metal of a golf cart, it should accelerate reasonably quickly. When batteries start to near the end of their lifespan, they can no longer provide the power needed to take off quickly and hit top speed.
Another indication that the battery is on its last legs is the golf cart’s inability to climb a simple hill. This could present a potential safety hazard to the golfers and people nearby if the cart gets stuck or starts to roll back due to a bad battery.
2. Long Charge Times - The act of repeatedly charging golf cart batteries can shorten its lifespan as the chemicals inside are only good for a set period of time. If your golf course maintenance crews are finding themselves having to retrieve dead golf carts off the course (when they thought the battery was fully charged) or if it’s taking longer than usual to charge the batteries, it’s a clear sign that it’s time to replace them.
3. Low Mileage - Another clear indicator of a dying battery is when a golfer returns the cart after only playing nine holes, and it seems like it’s underpowered. A battery in its prime should easily be able to drive from hole 1 to hole 18 and still have enough juice left over for the back 9. If your maintenance workers keep records, look at the frequency that they’re having to recharge the batteries.
4. Completely Draining the Battery - Some golf courses are so busy that it’s impossible for the maintenance staff to have any carts down for recharging. The act of running a battery until it’s literally on its last legs puts unnecessary wear and tear on it and can significantly shorten its lifespan. Allowing a battery to die over and over again can also put extreme stress upon it.
5. Visual Damage - When the internal chemicals of a lead-acid or deep-cycle battery start to escape the plastic housing, the battery is as good as dead. If you or your maintenance personnel notice any of the following, it means that you need to replace the battery as soon as possible:
Abnormal bulges in the housing.
Cracks in the housing.
Any sort of liquid that’s dripping from the battery.
If physical damage has occurred to the battery, it can lead to costly golf cart repairs. It’s much cheaper to buy a new battery than it is to repair or replace the entire golf cart or internal mechanisms.
Lithium-Ion Golf Cart Batteries vs. Traditional Lead-Acid
Many golf course managers across the U.S. are starting to switch over their entire fleets to using lithium-ion batteries instead of the traditional lead-acid ones. There are several distinct advantages that lithium-ion batteries offer:
Low Weight - Lithium-ion batteries weigh but a fraction of their lead-acid counterparts.
Shorter Charging Times - It takes less than four hours to charge a lithium-ion battery fully. Compare that to 8-10 hours for a traditional lead-acid one.
Zero Maintenance - Your golf course maintenance workers have more important things to do than remember to perform regular maintenance. Lithium-ion batteries require zero maintenance.
Longer-Lasting - Thanks to their longer battery cycle life, lithium-ion golf cart batteries have a much longer lifespan when compared to lead-acid ones.
Superior Technology - Many lithium-ion batteries come with a built-in Battery Management system (BMS), ensuring that they’re not over-charged or over-depleted.
Continental Lithium-Ion Golf Cart Batteries
At Continental Battery, we’ve been providing our customers with high-quality batteries for well over 85 years. Our lithium-ion golf cart line of batteries provides superior performance—and when added to a fleet of golf carts, it translates into substantial cost savings over traditional lead-acid ones.
We’re dedicated to developing and maintaining great, and long-lasting customer relationships backed up by our superior quality products. Contact us today to learn more about our company and line of car, marine, and golf cart batteries.
