There’s a great deal of uncertainty in the world of golf cart batteries today, especially in the category of 48-volt golf cart batteries. This debate is all about the comparison between the newer lithium-ion power cells and the good old lead acid power cells.
Some say that Li-ion batteries are far more superior compared to their lead-acid counterparts, while others prefer the lead acid due to their affordability. However, regardless of this issue, one thing is for sure, it will all go down and depend on the investor.
No matter what the analysts or experts say about both battery technologies, at the end of the day the investor is the one going to decide which of them to purchase. Nevertheless, learning and understanding what are the advantages and the disadvantages of both battery types will provide you the details that you need to come up with a smart decision.
This guide will talk about these two types of power cells and compare them based on the significant factors that directly affect a cart’s overall performance. Analyzing these comparisons will also help you decide which is a better choice depending on specific situations.
Comparison Between Lithium-Ion and Lead Acid Power Cells
We are now going to dig deeper and take a look at both batteries to see how they affect the performance of golf carts. For a much better comparison, we are going to break it down into several categories that will show a more detailed analysis.
With more detailed information regarding how the types of battery affect the performance golf carts. You will get the idea of which type will best fit your needs.
Keep in mind that the price of the products is also a factor that you have to consider, but in this case, it is already established that lead-acid power cells are more affordable than the Li-ion batteries. Now, let’s get to business!
Load or Carrying Capacity
The weigh-to-performance ratio of the cart is an important factor that you have to consider if you want your carts to be efficient as much as possible. Since golf carts are designed to transport people and their stuff, having a high load capacity golf cart will be very beneficial for clients and the business.
Batteries take out some of this carrying capacity since golf carts operate while carrying them. The heavier battery pack of the cart, the lesser the load capacity of the cart gets.
Li-ion batteries are typically half the size of their lead-acid counterparts because they have the ability to store a lot of power despite their small size. This is one of the best qualities li-ion power cells have over lead-acid batteries.
They are lighter in weight, and they feature a more compact housing. Equipping your golf carts with Li-ion will surely increase their weight-to-performance ratio and allow them to reach higher speeds.
This means that golf carts powered by lithium-ion batteries can carry more or heavier loads compared to carts powered by lead-acid batteries.
Ability to Stand Against the Wear and Tear
The type of battery used to power a golf cart can also directly affect its ability to withstand the test of time and stand against the wear and tear. Weight is a major factor that adds to a cart’s wear and tear; the heavier the cart is, the greater the wear and tear it will take.
Heavy carts can take a lot of damage when driving on challenging terrains. The sheer amount of bumpy rides a heavy cart will eventually cause it greater damage compared to a lighter cart.
The best way to reduce the weight of golf carts is by equipping it with a lighter battery, and as mentioned above, Li-ion batteries are lighter compared to lead-acid batteries. This simply means that using lithium-ion batteries to power golf carts will increase their protection against the wear and tear.
Lithium-ion batteries can extend the service of life of your golf carts by making them lighter in weight and reducing the wear and tear factor.
The Charging Speed of the Golf Cart Power Cell
A battery’s charging rate can also affect the performance of golf carts. The faster the battery charges reduce the lesser the downtime of the carts, allowing them to be more reliable.
As equipment vital to your day to day operations, golf carts should be operational at all times. If they spend most of their time charging, they can be considered to be a bad investment since most of their time will be downtime.
Golf cart batteries that have higher charging rate are more reliable because their downtime is greatly reduced.
Lead acid batteries take longer time to charge compared to the new Lithium-ion batteries. This means that lead-acid battery powered golf carts will have more downtime compared to carts equipped Li-ion batteries.
This means that if you want your carts to be more reliable and productive, equipped them with Li-ion batteries that have a faster charging rate.
The Life Cycle of Batteries
Longer lasting batteries also mean longer service life which is a great thing for golf carts. If your golf carts are equipped with batteries that can last for years, they can be considered as great investments.
They will also allow you to save money because it will take you several years to replace them. Giving you the best value for the amount of money you paid for them.
Long lasting batteries will also allow you to get the most of them which will make every penny you spent worthwhile.
A typical lead-acid battery lasts within the range of five hundred to a thousand cycle which can be good enough for your business. On the other hand, the newer Lithium-ion technology has a unique chemistry that allows Li-ion batteries to last longer.
A standard Li-ion battery can offer you a cycle within the range of two thousand to five thousand, which is significantly higher than lead-acid batteries. That makes Li-ion power cells longer lasting than their lead-acid counterparts.
They are the better choice as far as the battery life is concerned.
Final Thoughts
Based on the information and details written above, Lithium-ion batteries are far more than lead-acid batteries. They feature a compact and lightweight design, faster-charging rate and longer battery life that can be very beneficial to investors.
However, exceptional features like these come at a cost making them very pricey and too expensive for some business owners. If you are looking to purchase 48-volt golf cart batteries, choosing between these two types is going to be a task that requires a lot of thinking.
If you can afford the expensive Li-ion batteries, then you should choose them over the lead acid ones. However, if you are on tight budget, purchasing the lead acid batteries can be good enough to satisfy your needs.
