mar
2019
feature article
Another benefit of a lighter battery is the ease of
maintenance as when smaller batteries such as
lithium-ion batteries need to be checked or replaced,
you won’t find it difficult to lift them out and carry
them. They can also provide flexibility.
3. No Acid Spillage
Conventional golf cart batteries are acid-based, and
their plates are immersed into sulfuric acid and
electrolytes in which the interaction among them
produces energy.
However, the fluid becomes saturated with acid is
dangerous if there is spillage. Sadly, this is a common
occurrence in using golf carts, especially when the
cart is heavily used.
With lithium-ion batteries, you won’t have to worry
about such spillage as this battery does not use sul-
furic acid. In other words, there is no risk of any fluid
leaks that may harm you.
4. No Maintenance
Lithium-ion batteries in golf carts don’t have to be
maintained the way you maintain your lead -battery.
You don’t have to check whether the fluid is at a high
level or low level as it doesn’t require you to fill in any
fluid.
On top of that, you don’t have to keep on cleaning or
removing any rust since it doesn’t corrode. In other
words, lithium-ion battery is maintenance free.
5. High-Power Battery
Despite its small size, lithium-ion batteries are more
powerful than a lead-acid battery. It can discharge
energy faster than any other battery. This is the
reason why this type of battery is still popular among
cell phone manufacturers.
Overheating is very common for this battery, espe-
cially when overcharging. In addition, it’s also vulner-
able to changes in outdoor temperatures. In a hot
summer day, lithium-ion batteries are more likely to
overheat.
2. Charging
Just like cell phone batteries, you need to charge
the lithium battery in golf carts more frequently.
Although it’s virtually maintenance free, the hassle of
frequently charging it’s almost equal to maintaining a
conventional battery.
Furthermore, the risk happens when charging it,
since this battery is temperature-sensitive. Any mis-
take in the step you need to follow in the charging
process can cause it to overheat or explode.
3. Expensive
Prices of lithium-ion batteries for golf carts may vary
from time to time, but they do not fall below the
price level of conventional batteries. As a matter of
fact, their price is four times higher than lead-acid
batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are expensive be-
cause of the high cost of producing them.
4. Factory Defects
Factory defects may happen from time to time for
lithium-ion batteries which are very rare with lead-ac-
id batteries. Some lithium ion batteries die even
before reaching 50% of their normal battery life, and
this usually happens beyond the warranty period.
The worst thing is that the other possible defects
may cause a sudden explosion even without over-
heating them based on their specifications.
CONS Conclusion
1. Risk of Explosion
It’s true that lithium ion batteries have more advan-
tages; however, it’s not the number of advantages
that count. It’s how severe a single disadvantage
every buyer should consider. Every battery has advantages and disadvantages
when using a particular device or vehicle. This is also
true with lithium ion batteries in a golf cart.
Let’s say lithium batteries are near to perfection
except for one thing – the risk of an explosion. For
sure, you might be turned off because of this safety
6
hazard as every battery should achieve a safety level
in which the lithium-ion battery falls short.
WWW.GOLFCAROPTIONS.COM
One thing is for sure, and that is lithium-ion batteries
are still new for golf carts. This is more compatible
with smaller electronic devices; however, it also
brings several issues when used in mobile devices.