How Much Do Golf Cart Batteries Cost? [And Which To Buy]

Although you don’t often see them on the PGA Tour, your trusty golf cart is always there for you. When you’re feeling a little tired. Perhaps you’ve had a heavy night the night previous. Or maybe you just fancy a quick 9-hole zoom around the links. However, like all things, your golf cart will begin to age and it will come a time when it needs a new battery.

But when is that and how much do golf cart batteries cost? And what is the sort of cost for a replacement battery?

Here we’ll take a look at what it costs to replace your golf cart battery and assess a few of the factors to look out for to help you know when to replace it.

Let’s get into and find out a little more about golf cart batteries.

How Much Do Golf Cart Batteries Cost?

How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Cart Battery?

When it comes to replacing your golf cart battery, there is plenty of different options on the market you can choose from. How much do golf cart batteries cost is usually down to a few factors.

Typically there are a couple of main types of battery to choose from; Lead-acid or Lithium.

For a Lead-acid prices can range from £100 to over £1000 depending on the size and the amount of power it can produce.

A Lithium battery will usually cost you quite a bit more than a Lead-acid, mainly because it is a way for a more efficient battery type. For these batteries, you will be looking at around the £600+ mark. The lithium batteries will last you much longer than a standard Lead-acid battery, and in some cases will actually outlive the golf cart itself.

When buying a battery, you will likely see a range of different Capacity (Ah) specs. This is a measurement of how many amps the battery can deliver to a source within an hour time period. The higher the ‘Ah’, the more power it can deliver.

Depending on the type of cart you’ve got will help you work out which capacity of a battery is required.

How Long Do Golf Cart Batteries Last?

So this can very much depend on the type of battery that you’re using. For Lead-acid batteries, you can expect between 2 and 6 years of lifespan.

Of course, the amount of usage will be a factor in this time scale, but for standard usage, it’s about 3 years.

As for Lithium-ion batteries which a much more modern and efficient, you’re likely to get well up to 20 years out of it, sometimes even longer. Most of the time, this is long enough to outlive the cart itself, so it’s always better to buy yourself a Lithium in the long run.

Yes, they’re about 3 to 4 times the price of the older Lead-acid batteries. But unlike the Lead-acid batteries, you won’t be replacing them every 3 years.

When Do You Need To Replace A Golf Cart Battery?

When it comes to replacing your cart battery, it usually begins to become obvious. Most of the time, you’ll start to notice changes to the performance of your cart, which will most likely be down to an issue with the battery.

As previously mentioned, batteries can range in how long they usually last, very much depending on the type of battery.

Lithium batteries will last you around the 20-year mark so you don’t really need to worry about replacing that any time soon. Lead on the other hand will be between 2 to 6 years, so how do you begin to spot when it’s packing up?

It usually comes down to 4 main noticeable factors:

• Golf cart is losing power
• Golf cart is losing acceleration
• Battery is taking longer to charge
• Battery is leaking

Golf Cart Is Losing Power

If your cart is struggling to last the number of holes that you used to be able to get out of it, then it’s probably down to a faulty battery.

Old or damaged batteries can’t hold as much charge as newer models. This results in less power time between charges and fewer holes of golf.

Golf Cart Is Losing Acceleration

If you’re putting your foot down on the pedal and not getting the jump that you used to, it’s probably your battery running out of steam.

A sluggish battery will lack the charge to offer any real acceleration and will only gradually get worse over time. It could be time for a new shiny battery.

The Battery Is Taking Longer To Charge

If it feels like your battery is taking an age to charge, it’s never a good sign. If your battery is taking anymore then a few hours (depending on the type) to charge, it’s almost certainly time to look for a new one.

It’s usually a gradual process, so you most likely won’t see it drastically change overnight, so keep a check on your charging times to get an idea of if it’s getting worse.

Battery Is Leaking

If you take a look at your battery and it just looks a bit manky, it’s a sign that it’s packing up.

Any sort of leakage is never a good sign for a battery as this could be an acid leak. Either down the edges of the battery or the terminals, leakage means it’s time for a new option.

It’s important to add that you should always avoid contact with any battery acid and dispose of any batteries properly and responsibly. This is to avoid any damage to persons or the environment from the toxic materials it is made from.

Best Lithium Golf Cart Batteries

24v UltraMax 36Ah Lithium Golf Buggy Battery (18-27 hole) inc Charger

Image source: alpha-batteries

This battery is perfect for smaller buggies that are single-seaters. The battery may be used on all makes and models of single-seat buggies using a 24V system and is specifically made to fit into the battery bay of many single-seat golf buggies.

A complex, especially created battery management system that continuously analyses each cell ensures that the lithium battery is always optimised for the best performance and life is delivered with the lithium battery.

Additionally, charging is speedier; a flat battery will be fully charged in around 8 hours, and the lithium battery is shipped with a lithium charger.

It’s a great choice for the smaller carts that no longer want the heavy double Lead-acid batteries.

12V 75Ah Poweroad Lithium Golf Buggy Batteries

Image source: alpha-batteries

These batteries are ideal for your standard golf cart. One of the lightest on the market, they’ll offer amazing efficiency and keep your cart moving in great shape.

With capabilities of up 5000 cycles, you get a super long-lasting battery that is resistant to any vibrations. Another great thing about the lithium battery compared with Lead-acid is it’s environmentally friendly. No toxic materials are used and there’s no risk of leakage.

A really good option for your golf cart battery replacement.

Final Thoughts

There we have it, a quick look at what it costs to replace your golf cart battery. Golf is an expensive sport to play, there’s no denying that. And if you’re lucky enough to have your own golf cart, then I would always recommend getting a Lithium battery to power it.

Yes, you’re going to have to fork out a much higher price than the more traditional Lead-acid battery. But with that price, you get a guaranteed life of about 20 years compared to only a 3 or 4. They’re also much more efficient, easy to carry, and safer to use.

If you’re looking for a new trolley, check out our review on the best Druids golf trolley.