Electric utility vehicle - club car?

tlj87 · Nov 14, 2015

We are planning on selling our 2005 Honda Recon 250. I just got in from the barn removing all of our do-dads from it, and will wash it and photograph it tomorrow. We used it less than 10 times this past year and some of those were just to move it out of the way in the barn. We have a Kubota RTV1140 for the heavy work, so we are thinking an electric utility vehicle might be a handy (and quiet) sidekick, much morse versatile than the one person Honda.

We think we like the Club Car XRT800 electric. Does anyone have any experience with this or a similar unit?

Rustyiron · Nov 14, 2015

A friend has a Club car elec., don't know the model but it came with the dump bed and is no toy! That's what I'd like to have just for the quiet! I'm going to google it right now, to see what they cost.

tman1020 · Nov 14, 2015

I have a club car but I'm not sure what model it is. It is a 48 V. (6 8volt) battery Standard type golf cart that we added aggressive tires to and a fold-down backseat. It is extremely handy we use it all the time. It will hold a charge very long time with decent batteries. And requires very little maintenance just keep water in the batteries. I only charge it about once every two weeks or once a month depending on how much we use it.

It's not overly fast will probably go around 15 miles an hour but it's dead quiet and quite powerful. We added a small 12 V which to the back of it for when we do get into more then we should with it. But it's pretty much the first tool we go to when we need to get from one place to another or need to move something around the property

Industrial Toys · Nov 14, 2015

I have had a Mule Diesel for over a decade. Recently I bought a JD E-Gator at auction. The E-Gator is a much better fit for most of the stuff I use a utility vehicle for. A lot of stop and go work that stopping and starting a diesel engine is just not a good fit.

I will keep the Mule, as it has 4WD and come snow, the JD will be parked.

Plus, I had an aging 48 Volt battery bank that ran a 5000 watt 110/220 volt inverter as a back up for two diesel gensets, and now the JD bateries will double for this duty.

txdon · Nov 15, 2015

I Have had a 48v DC Club Car for 16 years and it has worked out fine, but it is finally ready to be replaced. The new 48v PTV AC by Yamaha with twice the power may be just what I need this go around.
https://www.yamahagolfcar.com/ac/
Yamaha Drive AC PTV Golf Cart Review By David Theoret

Eldubya · Nov 15, 2015

I use a 48V Club Car around my resort ALL THE TIME. We would be dead in the water without this little beast! They have more than enough power to go up a very steep driveway, goes all day long on a single charge. Housekeeping staff use it for servicing the rooms, Groundskeepers use it for hauling cuttings and debris, getting to and from sites etc. Could almost use two of them if I didn't have a tractor as well.

4570Man · Nov 16, 2015

Are the electric ATVs any less maintenance than a gas. I have a mule 600 which is pretty wimpy. It is pretty much only good for riding around or hauling light loads. It is very low maintenance. It has 490 hours, and I have had to change the oil a few times and change the battery once. It runs almost silent. It is about due a new set of front tires, but that wouldn't have mattered if it was gas or electric. As pathetically slow as the mule is, it could still run circles around most electric carts.

txdon · Nov 16, 2015

4570Man said:
Are the electric ATVs any less maintenance than a gas. I have a mule 600 which is pretty wimpy. It is pretty much only good for riding around or hauling light loads. It is very low maintenance. It has 490 hours, and I have had to change the oil a few times and change the battery once. It runs almost silent. It is about due a new set of front tires, but that wouldn't have mattered if it was gas or electric. As pathetically slow as the mule is, it could still run circles around most electric carts.

I think they are less maintenance. plug in at night, runs all day (my work day), check battery water every couple of months, replace batteries every 5 years, and never have to think about running to town to get gas or if it will start.

I can go up my steepest dam. My place is rough so the 14 mph is plenty fast. If you want to haul everything that your truck hauls and go 30 mph a golf cart is not for you. I could fill the bed of the Club Car and haul a small trailer full of firewood. My Club Car did slow down going up-hill, even slower backing up an incline, I have not tried the new Yamaha on hills. With twice the power new A/C Yahama PTV is suppose to rival gas on power.

No matter how quiet the gas motors are, you still have some noise and a mental thing of an engine firing up. After a day on the tractor the silent electric is so wonderful it just glides like no effort is being expelled - it's a mental relaxer. I have already ruled out all gas utility vehicles. If I need more power - that's what my pick-up or tractor is for. I do not use my utility vehicle as competition play toy. I use it to go from point a-b with tools or haul small loads or go for a slow quiet evening scenic drive to look at wildlife.

4570Man · Nov 16, 2015

How much does it cost to change the batteries? I don't much like the idea of that. It seems that plugging it up every night and changing the batteries every five years exceeds the trouble of putting in gas every couple of weeks and changing the oil every year.

tman1020 · Nov 16, 2015

Batteries are expensive between 700 and 1000 depending. At least that's what I find. I believe the batteries last longer than five years if you take care of them properly. I'm on my second set and I think my car is a 2000 model year. I do not charge mine every night unless I'm using it a lot every day. Usually I will only charge it about every week or two. I will use it every couple of days but not for more than 20 to 40 minutes at a time usually. Using fuel and oil changes probably would be cheaper. But I hate the fact that if I don't use it for a while I have to worry about the carb gumming up or adding fuel stabilizer and mice getting in intake. Plus it's just really nice not having any noise when you use it it's pretty much silent. You simply get in it push the pedal and it goes. No checking the fuel no smelly exhaust no dead battery to start it. I don't think they are for everyone but I would not trade it for a gas version even if it was faster and more powerful.