In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about your golf cart’s speed and how fast golf carts can go with and without modifications. Golf carts aren’t just used as a convenient way to travel between holes on the golf course anymore. Did you know that the fastest recorded speed for a golf cart was clocked at just under 120 mph?
You might not want to try to beat the world’s fastest golf cart, but you probably want to know what kind of speed you will get if your thinking about investing in a joy ride. If you have not looked into the world of golf cart enthusiasts, it really is something worth exploring. Golf carts can be customized to do pretty much anything you want them to. You can have modifications installed to your golf cart to make them more powerful, look way cooler, and most importantly, go faster.
What is the Average Golf Cart Speed?
The average top speed of a typical golf cart without any upgrades is between 12 and 14 miles per hour.
Without any sort of modification or upgrade on a golf cart, the top speed that you will be getting on a golf cart is about 14mph. You may be wondering if a different kind of golf cart is faster than another. For example, There are different types of golf carts like gas engine golf carts and electric golf carts. With electric golf carts, there are lithium-ion batteries containing 48-volts of power and 36-volts. So how do these factors play into the speed of a cart? Read on to have all your questions answered.
Electric golf carts vs Gas: Is One of Them Faster?
If you are trying to decide between buying a gas golf cart or an electric golf cart, a primary factor in your decision could be speed. You will most likely be pleased to know that when it comes to down to the speed of a golf cart, there is not much difference between either version of these two carts. Without any modifications, both types of carts will reach about the same top speed between the 12 and 14 mph range as mentioned before. The only difference between the two is that battery-powered golf carts may start to slow down slightly as the charge runs low.
Is a 48-volt Cart Faster than a 36-volt Cart?
The short answer is no, however, there are some advantages to 48-volt carts. Both 36V and 48V golf carts will reach the same top speed, but the difference between the two is the amount of torque/power they provide. A 48V golf cart supplies the engine with a little more power providing a few advantages over a 36V.
Faster acceleration time: The higher voltage of a 48V electric golf cart supplies the engine with a little more pulling power making the acceleration response of the vehicle a little quicker when stepping on the pedal.
Longer distance: A 48V electric golf cart draws fewer amps allowing for a longer overall distance the vehicle will go before needing a recharge.
Power on all terrains: More torque means that a cart can traverse through hilly and uneven terrain slightly easier on a 48V cart than a 36V.
If you’re looking for faster acceleration, A 48-volt golf cart will definitely be the way to go. If you are looking for an increase in overall speed, the difference between the two is the same.
How Fast is a 72-volt Golf Cart?
The newer EZGO 72-volt electric golf cart is the newest version of high voltage golf carts. These individual carts have almost 30 more volts than the 48-volt competitor carts, but how does this affect speed? The 72-volt version of the EZGO electric golf cart does have several pros compared to lower voltage vehicles, but it cannot outperform them on speed. These electric golf carts have much more horsepower and torque than lower voltage carts, but these factors do not apply to speed.
Increased torque and hp is great for traversing uneven terrain and going up inclines, but it does not affect speed. In fact, some 36 and 48-volt models are faster than electric golf carts with 72 volts of power. Higher voltage can also allow the vehicle to travel farther on one single charge and use less energy when charging, but it cannot increase top speed.
How Can You Make a Golf Cart Go Faster?
So what kind of modifications you can apply to a golf cart to make it go faster? We’ll show you a few. There are several kinds of upgrades you can have added to your vehicle to contribute to its overall speed. Here are a few that can take the speed of your golf cart to the next level:
- Speed chip/code
- Bigger Tires
- Motor upgrade
Golf cart manufacturers design the carts to travel at a certain speed for safety reasons. In order to bypass the speed limitations put onto a golf cart, you will need to change the programming of the cart’s computer system. This is done through speed chips and speed codes.
The easiest way of upgrading the speed of a golf cart is by getting bigger tires. The reasoning behind this is just the physics of it. If your axles are spinning at the same rate, increasing the tire size will allow more distance to be covered in the same timeframe.
To get your golf cart to surpass the speed you will get from speed codes, you will need to upgrade your motor. The programing of your cart’s computer can only speed up your vehicle a certain amount. After that, it comes down to the overall power of the engine.
What are Speed Chips and Speed Codes?
The term “speed chip” only refers to an EZGO cart, and depending on the year of the vehicle, the “speed chip” changes. Older carts, mostly 36 volts, will be a physical part that plugs into the cart’s speed controller. The speed sensor of the cart interprets the rpm of the motor which allows the controller to cap the top speed of the golf cart. One of these physical chips that you plug into the speed controller will override the previous cap on the speed setting and allow the speed controller to output higher speed settings. If it is a newer cart model, mostly 48 volts, it requires a code for the computer of the cart. Using these modifications will get your cart’s speed up to approximately 19 mph. If you want more speed than that, you are looking at getting an upgraded motor.
To speed up a Club Car you will need a “speed code” for the cart. These codes are uploaded directly onto the golf cart’s computer operating systems. The speed codes for Club Car models are numbered 1 through 5, each increasing the speed of the cart more than the last. A dealer will apply a speed code to your club car when you request it bringing your cart’s speed from 12-14mph up to about 19.5mph with a speed code 4. Speed code 5 is only available to a small number of cart serial numbers, so you will most likely have to settle with a speed code 4.
How many miles per hour is the fastest Golf Cart?
The limit on the fastest golf cart is extremely high, as the world record golf cart at 120mph proves, but how fast can you expect to get your cart with all these upgrades in mind?
With bigger tires, a speed code 4, and an upgraded motor, you should expect to get your golf cart up to about 23mph.
In case you haven’t seen the video of the world-record-holding golf cart for fastest speed, here it is:
Can You Buy These Modifications?
If you are a fan of DIY, you will be happy to know that you can buy some modifications online like the speed chip for older EZGO cart models. You can also buy a DIY lift kit along with larger tires to install them yourself, however, it is much easier to have a professional add these modifications for you.
So if you were wondering if your golf cart will go faster, now you know that the answer is YES! Increasing the speed of a golf cart is very popular among golf cart enthusiasts. With all of the tips that we just gave you, you can potentially bring the speed of your golf cart from 12mph up to 23-25mph. If you would like to implement these upgrades and make your vehicle a fast and fun ride, a golf cart dealership like J’s Golf Carts will do it for you.
Buy an Upgraded or Customized Cart
At J’s golf carts, we will get you the right upgrades installed on your golf cart to make it go faster. If you don’t yet own a golf cart, you can browse our pre-owned golf carts or have us build a customized one. Check out the list of cosmetic and functional upgrades we can implement into your custom cart design. For more information on having a custom vehicle built, fill out the contact form below because we can build some pretty awesome golf carts.
J’s Golf carts are customized to a tee, it is yours after all! J’s golf carts will go up to 20 miles per hour. Typically you can customize your golf cart to go faster than that, but once you start breaking speeds of 25 miles per hour or more, there are more laws you have to be aware of and keep in mind based on what exactly is equipped on your own personnel or golf cart.
How fast can street legal golf carts go?
In order for a golf cart to be street-legal, it needs to meet speeds of 20 miles per hour. Luckily J’s Golf Carts is able to do that, easily. Apart from being very capable of installing all the gear and equipment your golf cart will need, we can also make whatever modifications to the golf cart externally and internally.
Go out on a sunny day and ride your custom street legal golf cart!
Can you make my custom golf cart go faster?
J’s Golf Carts has got you covered! Not only can we make your golf cart go faster, but we will make it street legal too. Bringing your golf cart up to 20 miles per hour is a will do! This is the speed you will need to take your joy ride on the streets, and who wouldn’t want to take their golf cart on the road?
J’s will modify, customize, improve, and enhance everything about your golf cart to make it the most beautiful custom street legal golf cart you will have ever seen!
Can you slow my golf cart down?
J’s Golf Carts can do ANYTHING you want to your golf cart. That includes making it slower. Maybe your golf cart is too fast. With too many regulations on it, we can understand why you would want to get into the 20 mph range. J’s Golf Carts will also customize and modify your golf cart to go slower IF YOU WOULD LIKE. We will then make sure it has all the necessary equipment installed if it needs to be street legal.
What Service Plans Does J’s Golf Carts Offer?
With three preventative care packages, we have plans that fit all needs and budgets. Our most popular Premium Package includes a bi-annual service to keep everything in tip-top shape on your electric golf cart or gas golf cart. During the service check, our technicians will check and clean all battery terminals, brakes and alignment, and water levels in batteries. They will also grease the front end, clean your vehicle, and perform annual diagnostics on your battery life. Included with the Premium Package is a 5% discount on all materials.
The Elite Service Care Package includes all of the important services as the Premium Package with added benefits such as no charge pick-up and delivery, free on-site service, free diagnostics, and a 10% discount on all materials.
If you’re looking for a once-per-year service check, our Standard Package is perfect for you. Your annual service includes a check and cleaning of all battery terminals, brake and alignment check, battery water level check, greasing of the front end, and a sparkly clean cart.
CONTACT US TODAY ABOUT YOUR CART NEEDS
