Educate Golf Cart Customers about Voltage and Amperage
High Voltage Danger Electricity by Open Clipart-Vectors To the extent possible under law, the person who associated CC0 with High Voltage Danger Electricity has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to High Voltage Danger Electricity. Image obtained from https://pixabay.com/en/high-voltage-danger-electricity-151821/[/caption]
You’re selling a customized electric golf cart. Have you educated the customer about golf cart voltage and amperage? This can break a sale when a customer can’t wrap their head around understanding what they’re trying to buy. The less a customer understands, the more frightened they’ll be of buying now and the less likely they are to come back. This damages future parts and replacement sales as well, and golf cart sales down the road. This is especially damaging if the customer’s a business. This kind of education goes a long way toward developing relationships between customer and dealer, or business and dealer.
How to Describe Golf Cart Voltage and Amperage
Make sure that customers understand that voltage is power. It doesn’t have to do with fuel or range, at least not directly. It’s easy for them to understand the foundation that 72 volts is more than 48 volts. Higher voltage means greater power and acceleration.
That’s the easy part. Once they understand this, then you can get to the golf cart’s controller and amperage. Amperage decides the range of a golf cart. That’s the simplest way to put it.
These concepts should both be easy for a customer to understand. Don’t overcomplicate them; just make sure the customer understands both golf cart voltage and amperage.
How to Describe Golf Cart Battery Systems
Now you can start getting into the battery system of a customized electric golf cart. Different battery systems can deliver different amperages. Tell them to assume the golf cart is traveling at 20 mph. 48-volt golf cart batteries can be arranged in different ways. A 48-volt system of 4×12 volts can deliver approximately 600 amps. Yet a 48-volt system of 8×6 volts can deliver 1,800 amps. This alone can increase the range of a golf cart from about 12 miles to about 35 miles.
Both systems deliver the same voltage, so their speed and acceleration will be similar. Yet because they deliver different amperages, their range will be different. The power and acceleration of the golf cart don’t change, but the range does. This can help a customer understand why battery systems perform differently.
It’s also why 36-volt golf cart batteries (6×6 volts) can go further than a 72-volt system (6×12 volts). The 72-volt system will be far superior in speed and acceleration but will deliver less amperage than the 36-volt system. This means that – while not as fast or quick – the 36-volt system will have a better range.
Customers Fear What They Don’t Understand
A customer who understands this will be more open to seeing the value in purchasing higher-quality battery systems and controllers. They’re also more likely to customize an electric golf cart in a way that suits them. If they understand these concepts, they won’t imagine you’re trying to down-sell or up-sell them unfairly – they’ll see how you’re trying to build to suit their needs.
Customers such as golf courses, camping areas, colleges, and retirement communities are more likely to choose an option with higher amperage. Their golf carts have to travel further and power isn’t as much of a concern.
Customers such as hunters, stables, and maintenance crews are more likely to choose an option with higher voltage. These help them haul supplies and conquer hills and rough terrain more easily.
Customers Will Reveal What They Do and Don’t Know
Always listen to your customers in golf cart sales. They’ll communicate what they do and don’t understand, even if they’re trying to present themselves differently. A quick and simple education in voltage and amperage can help them understand and make the right decisions. When you customize an electric golf cart, a customer who gains more knowledge than they had when they walked in will be more satisfied, less scared, and more likely to close a sale.
Get the BYGC Software
Related Articles
Golf Cart Manufacturers
Golf Cart ManufacturersWondering if your brand is available on Build Your Golf Cart software? Take a look through our list of golf cart brands. Not seeing your company? Don’t miss the list of alternative golf cart companies at the bottom of the page. We’re always...
Three Reasons Build Your Golf Cart Software Will Increase Your Sales
Three Reasons Build Your Golf Cart Software Will Increase Your SalesThree Reasons Build Your Golf Cart Software Will Increase Your Sales What are you doing right now to set your golf cart dealership apart from the many others out there today? How you are actually...
5 Ways Build Your Own Golf Cart Software Can Help Increase Brand Trust
5 Ways Build Your Own Golf Cart Software Can Help Increase Brand TrustBrand trust has never been more important than it is right now. Over the past year, nearly every brand has had to reconsider its strategy, how to approach customers, and how to create a safe,...
Can you charge 2-36 volt golf carts at the same time using the same 110 volt outlet?
We are a golf cart software company so not our expertise but we did ask around to our golf cart dealers and this is what two people said:
“If it is wired properly you can.”
“You should not, most home 110 outlets are 15 amps, most 36 volt chargers use about 12 amps, so that would put you at 24 amps at a 15 amp outlet that is probably on 14 gauge house wiring that should only carry 15 amps max.”
“A 48-volt system can be arranged in different ways. A 48-volt system of 4×12 volts can deliver approximately 600 amps. Yet a 48-volt system of 8×6 volts can deliver 1,800 amps.”
Im guessing you mean Amp Hours, not continuous current rating..
More 6 volt batteries in series do not provide more capacity than less 12v batteries in series.
Inside the battery are cells in series – then when you connect the whole pack in series, you’re just joining the last cell in one battery to the first cell in another battery. the overall battery voltage doesn’t care how it’s made up. You could create a 24v battery by putting a single 12v and two 6v batteries all in series.
In terms of capacity, it’s always a like for like. In your scenario, to have a 600AH system with 4*12v packs in series – this means that all of the individual 12v packs are 600AH. To get 1800AH out of 8*4v packs in series, this would mean that your individual 6v packs are 1800AH (which is unheard of).
Assuming you 6v packs and 12v packs are both 600AH; 4*12v packs in series will net 600AH @ 48v. and 8*6v packs in series will net 600AH @ 48v.
I’m not sure where you got your information from, but its entirely incorrect.
Yes, this article has many incorrect information which could be quite misleading. Please correct.
What info is misleading that we need to correct?
I have a 72v cart and the initial reading of all 6 batteries is 75v. When I load test it the voltage drops to 63v but the cart is barely moving. Are the batteries the problem or a combination of batteries and something else?
Sounds like the batteries. Get a battery hydrometer and test each cell.
You will more than likely find several cells that are bad. That would explain the
drop to 63v under load.
Lithium Ion golf cart batteries typically deliver about 150-200amps peak and 100amps continuous. They work fine at much lower amp discharge capacity. Why is that?
I have a switch on my charger for amps or volts. I don’ recall what it was set on before I moved it and hit the switch. Where does it need to be set to charge properly? Thank you.
Batteries wired in series will not increase the amps.
Rather use Kilowatt Hour
Wrong: 4×12 volts can deliver approximately 600 amps.
Correct: 4X12 volt 150ah in series will deliver = 48V 150ah (std. 12 volt deepcycle)
or 7.2 kwh
Wrong:8×6 volts can deliver 1,800 amps.
Correct: 8vX6 volt 170ah in series will deliver = 48V 170ah (8v Trojan)
or 8.16 kwh
Correct:6×6 volt 220ah in series will deliver = 36v 220 ah (6v Trojan)
or 7.92 kwh
8.16 kwh would be the best option (6X8V)
Can the charging amperage be reduced on stock golf cart chargers? My understanding is a slow charge is easier on the batteries and will age better.
Slow charge is better.
I just bought s 72 volt golf cart,runs great,new batteries when fully charged the charger shuts off at 63 volts