Batteries are as important as any other components in your golf cart. Therefore, having certain characteristics of them into consideration is rewarding.
The modern lithium-ion technology which has undergone vast advancements in the last couple of years is the most preferred by the golf cart users, and for good reasons. You need to have a look at the features to understand why switching from Lead-acid to Lithium-based is the right choice for you.
In the top list of these features are;
- Charging Capability of The Battery
Lithium-Ion batteries possess efficiency of up to 95%. It also accepts a partial charge and charges faster (in 30 minutes it can charge 50%).
- Weight of The Battery
On average Lithium-Ion batteries weigh three times less than a standard lead-acid battery.
- Maintenance Needs
Lithium-Ion batteries have little maintenance costs as compared to lead-based ones that need to be filled with unmineralised water regularly, maintaining the filling system, and removing oxides from the elements and terminals.
- Safety, Waterproofing and Emissions
Lithium-Ion batteries have three unique features that make them efficient;
- Automatic Disconnection – Happens when, the golf cart, is idle and prevents it from improper use by the customer.
- Balancing and Management System – This feature maintains the battery’s efficiency.
- Remote Control System – it possesses automatic warning of troubles and malfunction features.
- Service Life
Lithium-ion batteries last relatively longer than lead-acid based batteries – for three to four times that of lead-based ones.
- Electricity Usage
Lithium-Ion batteries save up on electricity up to eight times as compared to electricity consumption when using lead-acid batteries.
- Expandability Advantage
With Lithium-ion batteries, one can add more cells; this provides additional storage as well as giving the rest of the batteries durability.
In contrast, lead-based batteries lack this expandability advantage as adding batteries to the existing lead battery bank leads to premature failure of the whole battery bank.
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Switching The Battery Type on Your Golf Cart?
Critique of Lithium-Ion Batteries
The only drawback underlying the lithium-Ion batteries is the cost as compared to relatively cheaper Lead-acid batteries.
However, the rationale of switching from lead-based batteries to lithium-Ion batteries lies on the fact that the latter has more than twice the life cycle of the former.
With this shared understanding, it is worth putting forth that one will experience valuable benefits by switching from lead-based technology to lithium-based technology.
While Lithium-based technology seems to be the best option with the advancement in technology and consequently leading to an informed customer, there is a need to embrace the change to remain relevant in the business segment.
How To Replace Lead-Based With Lithium-Ion?
When one is considering replacing a lead-acid battery with a Lithium-Ion battery, there is the need to take a couple of things into consideration.
‘Drop-in replacement’ is not as easy as you think. To get the optimal results, and especially with the Lithium-Ion batteries in our case, it is critical that you remain within the recommended operating conditions.
Although the batteries are set up to automatically function safely, taking proper care of the new batteries will save you headaches during use.
Things to take into consideration include when switching include;
- Seeking The Services of a Professional
Professional installers, like our Luxe Electric Car team, will be a better option in this case as they have experience in the field.
- The Charge Voltage of The Battery Bank Needs To Be Checked and Possibly Changed
This is so because Lithium-Ion batteries charge in a specific voltage, and therefore, the battery bank needs to be adjusted to be compatible with the Lithium-Ion batteries.
The battery bank should not be too low as this will be far below the Lithium-Ions operating conditions and also not too high as this will push Lithium Ions outside their operating conditions.
- Battery Monitoring Needs To Be Shunt (Ah Counting) Based, Not Voltage-Based Lithium-Ion batteries require monitoring to be shunt based, as voltage measurement will result in unreliable readings, potentially leading to deep discharges. Shunts provide a basis of determining faults in Battery Management Systems (BMS).
Only shunt-based monitoring devices that incorporate a Lithium-Ion battery typesetting should be used.
LUXE Electric Car
LUXE Electric Car is the only Luxury, Custom, Electric Golf Car manufacturer in the Coachella Valley.
Not only does LUXE Electric Car Custom Build them right here in the desert, but their showroom, located at 74-125 Hwy 111, Palm Desert, is open and ready to help you decide what style and extras you want for your next new golf cart.
As one of the leading electric golf cart companies in the United States, they are also the trailblazers for innovation, including the power plants. Seeing the future in power shifting from Lead Acid Batteries to Lithium, LUXE Electric Car can not only fit your new car with batteries that need no maintenance, a warranty of five years and change the life of up to 100 miles between charging, but they can retro-fit existing carts with Lithium Batteries.
To contact us – LUXEElectricCar.com
760-408-0139
