Gas or Electric Golf Cart for a Run-About?

ANiforos · Jan 23, 2011

milkman; One thing I didn't like about mine was the engine cutting off every time I stopped said:
MilkMan, do you know the website you found that information on? I would love to be able to leave mine running also, sort of like an idle. I have always been under the impression that you cannot do that with the Club Car, because of the clutch system.....as soon as you press the gas pedal, it will start up and start to move oh so slowly.

milkman · Jan 23, 2011

Later today, I will go look at the exact wire I unplugged and describe it's location. I also had to slow the idle speed to keep it from creeping while idling although you can lock the brake to stop that too.

ANiforos · Jan 23, 2011

Thanks Milkman for the quick reply. Mine is a 95 Club Car and yours is a 97. They should be really similar, if not almost identical. I do have another question though. How do you start/stop the engine. When you turn the key to on, does it start, or do you still have to depress the gas pedal to get it to actually fire up and run? I am guessing that once it is running, you just turn the key to off to get it to shut down. I'm a little confused about how it will start though.
Alex

/pine · Jan 23, 2011

FWIW...I've had an Ez-Go electric cart for a about 9 years...in that time I've replaced the batteries once...been through two sets of tires...

I run this cart in the mountains...I've never been stranded by dead batteries or lack of power...

I was originally in the market for a gas cart but I am glad the dealer (who sold both gas and electric carts) talked me into electric... they have much more torque than gas carts...

If you read about maintaining deep cycle batteries you will learn that they should always be kept charged...

jeffinsgf · Jan 23, 2011

Like Slash Pine, I've had an electric cart for 6 years, and it has been remarkably trouble free. It's a 1999 EZ-GO PDS with a lift kit, balloon tires, and a cargo bed on the back. Replaced the batteries last year...don't anticipate doing that again for 8 or 9 years.

milkman · Jan 23, 2011

I could have been more clear on the operation after unplugging the one wire, it still operates the same as before, just turn the key on and it starts when I mash the gas pedal, and just turn the key off to kill the engine or if I'm not going to be off the cart long, I just flip the F/R lever to neutral and that also kills the engine. When switching from forward to reverse, the engine will die in the neutral position, but will keep running if I switch it fast enough.

I would think that the electric carts would have more torque to start off with since they put out all their torque from zero to full open although they are hauling around the heavy batteries, but the gas carts have to build some revs before developing full torque. I've never had a problem with power and have hauled about 900# up a long hill that was steeper than I care to walk up.

I went out and checked the cart, if you stand on the driver side and lift the seat, there is a box with one screw in the center of its top. Remove the screw and the top snaps off and you will see the the cable that moves and contacts a set of micro switches toward the front of that box. I think there are three wires connected to those switches, the BLACK wire is the one to unplug. It is a female plug so I didn't have to tape it up. If I remember correctly, I had to take the cover off the top of the carb to get to the idle screw and slow the idle speed. If that's not clear enough, let me know.

Gale Hawkins · Jan 23, 2011

I want seats for four what ever I get and since most are two seaters it seems like going with one then getting the second seat/flat bed $700 kit might be as cheap in the long run. That upgrade could come later too.

So far in gas I have only ran across the quite old Yamaha 2 stroke and most electrics are EZGO's it seems. One guy to buys and repairs has a 96 two seater EZGO with 13 month old batteries that he states looks OK for its age and he used it for golfing this past summer. He had to put the F/R control and one other but he said the parts were only like $20 each.

In electric it seems another $500-$600 will jump you up like 5-8 years newer.

Over time with help here and starting to look a some the electric/gas thing may come clear. While it is not planned I might would trailer it behind the MH. Not sure the rules for golf cart use due to physical limitations at RV parks/campgrounds but electric might draw less attention.

tawilson · Jan 23, 2011

Got both, next one will be electric.

sodamo · Jan 23, 2011

Good to see this discussion. Would like an easy to run vehicle to get around our 21 acres for small projects and sometimes just to ride around. Power on slopes/ hills is important, speed not so much. I keep a swarth mowed all the way around so i think I can get away without 4x4. I don't think electric would be good as we are totally off grid and would require charging from my PV system. Of course if I had good info on how much power a charge takes, that could change my mind possibly. Any real user data out there?
Several friends and neighbors have gators, but just not in my budget.

jeffinsgf · Jan 23, 2011

Join the discussion at this forum:

Buggies Unlimited Golf Cart Forum • Index page

Really great guys who are deep into the golf cart as a form of transportation and a hobby. I have used that forum to fix my cart on several occasions, and have saved hundreds of dollars by doing stuff myself. The forum is owned by Buggies Unlimited, a company that sells all sorts of customizing parts and original factory parts for all major brands.

My cart was a lease return from a golf course. Watch e-Bay, there are a lot of companies on there that convert lease returns. There's bound to be one relatively close to you.