Golf carts are similar to cars in the sense that both vehicles need batteries in order to operate. The power from the battery provides the energy to start the car or golf cart. However, there is a difference between the typical car battery and a golf cart battery. Your car will only have one battery under the hood, while your golf cart will actually have multiple batteries in order to run. This is because an electric golf cart does not utilize gas in order to run, while a car does.
If you are looking to know exactly how many batteries go in your golf cart before you take it for a drive, you’re in the right place. J’s Golf Carts in Holly Springs, North Carolina, has the answers for you.
What is Battery Voltage?
In order to understand the amount of batteries that go into your cart, you first need to understand the voltage. After all, these go hand in hand with each other.
Voltage, in short, is the amount of pressure the battery uses to push energy towards the vehicle in order to start it. When you have a higher voltage, your battery will be pushing more electricity or energy towards the cart.
In your golf cart, there are several options for what the voltage may be. Most commonly, your golf cart will either be 36 volts, 48 volts, or occasionally 72 volts.
How Many Batteries Does My Cart Need?
The amount of batteries your cart needs depends on the voltage of the cart. Every battery has something called cells on the top – each cell holds a value of two volts. So, if the battery has three cells on the top, you know that particular battery has a value of six volts. In addition to the voltage of the cart, it is also important to look at the voltage of the batteries themselves in order to determine how many batteries you will actually need. The most common voltage options for your batteries are six, eight, and twelve volts.
A large selection of carts are 36 volt carts. So, if you are using six volt batteries, you will need six batteries to power your cart. You will need three twelve volt batteries – if your cart is compatible with those – for a 36 volt cart. A 48 volt cart can use six volt, eight volt, or twelve volt batteries. If you have a 48 volt cart, you will either need eight six volt batteries, six eight volt batteries, or four twelve volt batteries. 72 volt batteries are less common, but still available.
Keep in mind, the higher the voltage battery you use, the faster it will charge. They will either need twelve six volt batteries, six twelve volt batteries, or nine eight volt batteries.
What Types of Batteries are Available?
There are actually two types of batteries available. There are your typical lead acid batteries, which have been around for years. 
Then, there is the lithium ion battery. This is a newer battery option for cart owners, and it is typically considered the “Tesla” battery of golf carts. They are much more advanced than a lead acid battery, while requiring little to no maintenance. Typically, they even have a smartphone app that goes along with it!
The smartphone app for your lithium ion battery can provide you with a load of information that was not as easily accessible before. For example, it can tell you exactly how much charge is left on your battery, your battery’s overall health, and so much more.
In addition to the smartphone app, the lithium ion battery will last much longer than a lead acid battery. In fact, it can last you up toten years, while a lead acid battery will need replacing much earlier. They even charge faster than lead acid batteries, and sometimes include an automatic stop once the battery is fully charged.
Although it is a larger investment up front, you may benefit from all that the lithium ion battery has to offer. After all, who wouldn’t want a battery that will last longer with no maintenance?
Visit J’s Golf Carts Today
Are you looking for new batteries for your golf cart in the Holly Springs, North Carolina area? If so, J’s Golf Carts is here to help! If you are unsure of what voltage your cart is, we are more than happy to help you figure that out. Additionally, we have both lead acid and lithium batteries in stock right now! We can help you figure out which type of battery is more suitable for your cart, as well as how many batteries you will need to power the cart. Once you have your batteries chosen, our service department is available to help you install them into your cart.
If you are interested in new batteries for your cart, or have any other questions, feel free to fill out the contact form below. Someone will be in touch with you shortly. Or, if you would like, stop by our Holly Springs location at your earliest convenience. We look forward to speaking to you soon!
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