How Long Does It Take To Charge A Golf Cart?

Introduction

If you own your own electric golf cart then the last thing you want to do is run out of juice partway around the golf course. Even worse you don’t want to be the guy in the pro shop having to deal with an irate customer whose buggy just ran out of power on the 10th hole!

Depending on a number of factors it could take anywhere from 3-15 hours to fully charge your batteries.

In this post, we will cover many of the issues you might face when trying to charge an electric golf cart.

What Is The Charging Time For An Electric Golf Cart?

Charging a golf cart is not a difficult task. It can be done in a few hours but will depend on several factors.

These include:

• the amount of charge left in the battery or discharge level
• the age of the cell
• the type of battery
• the quality of the cell
• the quality of the battery charger
• ambient temperature

State Of Battery Charge

Obviously, it stands to reason that a battery that is 80% discharged will take longer to charge than a battery that has only used 20%, all other factors being equal.

Try to avoid letting your battery go beyond 80% discharge as this will affect the long-term performance of your battery.

Age Of The Cell

Over time, the performance of batteries will tend to degrade and this will result in slightly longer periods of time to charge the battery to full capacity.

Type Of Battery

The technology of cells or electric batteries didn’t change a great deal for many years. Even today many golf cart batteries are still the lead-acid variety. Although it is possible to find some models that utilize lithium-ion batteries. Generally speaking, newer lithium-ion batteries will charge more quickly than the older lead-acid type.

Bear in mind that as much as 79% of golf cart batteries are still lead-acid rather than lithium-ion due to the significant extra cost involved with purchasing the more modern battery chemistry.

Quality Of The Cell

The quality of components used to make the battery and the level of quality control in the manufacturing process are all likely to affect the speed with which the cell can take on power during the charging process.

Lower-quality components will affect how long it takes to fully charge your golf cart batteries. Inferior quality cells will also be likely to lead to shorter battery life span.

Quality Of The Battery Charger

The best quality golf cart chargers will be able to deliver higher voltage to the cell and will also likely feature an auto cut-off function to prevent your battery from overcharging.

Try to find a charger that can deliver 2.5-3.5 volts and also one that has an automatic cut-off function to prevent your batters from getting overcharged.

Ambient Temperature

Temperature can greatly affect the performance of batteries including how long it will take to charge your golf cart. While you may be aware that low temperatures can affect the performance of 48v golf cart batteries you may not realize that high temperatures can also change the behavior of the battery. At low temperatures, the battery will not perform as well when you use your vehicle and it will also mean it will take longer to charge golf cart batteries.

Charging a lead-acid cell at temperatures below 10°C (50°F) requires an increase in the voltage. Attempting to charge the same type of battery at temperatures above 30°C (85°F) requires a reduction in the voltage.

If you are using your car at low or high temperatures then that will greatly affect the discharge rate of the battery and therefore how often you will need to charge the cart’s battery.

Battery Maintenance

While many batteries sold for use by golf cart owners are now sealed units with no user intervention required there are still plenty of batteries out there where you may need to top up the fluid level to keep the battery working correctly.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions but generally speaking the fluid level needs to cover the plates. You should check this level regularly to keep your battery in good working order. If the plates become exposed you are likely to damage your battery.

If you tend to store your cart for periods during cold weather then it may be best to make sure the batteries are kept at room temperature to prolong their life. The manufacturer may also suggest topping up the charge every so often during periods when they are not in regular use.

You should also take care to store your cart in a shaded area if temperatures are going to be in excess of 100°F.

Battery Choice

There are two significant battery types that you can choose for your golf cart. Lead-acid or lithium-ion. The only significant advantage that lead-acid batteries have is their relatively low purchase cost. This will be offset somewhat by the fact that you will typically only get 500-1000 charging cycles from one of these. Lithium-ion is a relatively new battery type that is much lighter and reduces the overall weight of your golf cart. They will typically last for 2000-5000 charging cycles and will reduce the time your golf cart takes to charge.

How Long Does it Take to Charge a Golf Cart: Summary

So depending on many different factors, you might be talking about anything from a few hours to an overnight charge in order to charge a 48-volt golf cart. The time it will take will also depend on the golf cart battery charger that you use.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ]