Overview
In 2025, the golf cart market will show obvious differences in electric and fuel drive solutions: electric golf carts will become the only choice for short-distance and silent scenes with lower operating costs, almost zero noise and simplified maintenance; fuel golf carts will be more competitive in long-distance and high-load use with longer cruising range and continuous climbing ability. The following article will conduct a panoramic comparison of the two power solutions from four dimensions: cost, performance, maintenance and life, and user experience, and give selection suggestions in the conclusion.
Cost Comparison
Electric golf carts: easy to charge, can use household sockets. Low daily electricity bills and simple maintenance.
Fuel golf carts: need to be refueled regularly, and the fuel cost is high. There are many maintenance items and maintenance is more cumbersome.
Performance Comparison
Cruise Range
Electric golf carts: common 48 V lithium battery systems have a range of about 30-50 miles on flat roads, generally not more than 100 miles.
Fuel golf carts: 4–6 gallon tanks can travel 100–180 miles at an average speed of 10 mph, and some models are rated up to 200 miles.
Noise and Vibration
Electric golf carts: The motor noise is extremely low, and users commented that “the engine can hardly be heard running”.
Fuel golf carts: Even with the use of silencing technology, there is still obvious noise, which is not conducive to quiet communication and night use.
Acceleration and Climbing Ability
Electric golf carts: Instantaneous torque ensures quick start, but the endurance is significantly reduced when climbing continuously, requiring a larger capacity battery or load reduction.
Fuel golf carts: The internal combustion engine can continuously supply fuel, and the power is more stable under long-term climbing and heavy load conditions, which is more suitable for scenes such as undulating terrain and farms.
Maintenance and Life
Electric golf carts: The structure is simple, and the maintenance work is mainly concentrated on the battery management system (BMS) and motor inspection. Lead-acid batteries need to be regularly replenished and balanced, while lithium batteries do not require additional maintenance, and only monitoring status is required.
Fuel golf carts: The engine, fuel system and exhaust system need regular maintenance. The oil and filter need to be replaced at least twice a year, and the spark plugs and air filters need to be inspected. The maintenance complexity and cost are higher than those of electric golf carts.
Life comparison: The battery life of electric golf carts is generally 5-10 years, and the electromechanical components can be used for more than 10 years; the engine of fuel golf carts can be used for 8-12 years, but more intermediate maintenance is required.
User Experience
Driving comfort: Electric golf carts are stable and have low vibration, and the chassis and seat structure are easy to optimize comfort; the vibration and heat of the fuel golf cart engine are concentrated under the cockpit, and long-term driving is prone to fatigue.
Convenience of use: Electric golf carts support household socket charging and can be fully charged in 4-5 hours; fuel golf carts are quick to refuel, but additional oil barrels and safety protection are required.
Real feedback: Community users said that the new generation of electric golf carts can have a stable range of 30-35 miles, which is sufficient for daily use.
Conclusion
If your usage scenario is short-distance driving (15-40 miles/time) and has high requirements for quietness and low maintenance, electric golf carts are undoubtedly more cost-effective; if you focus on long-distance endurance (over 80 miles), high load or undulating terrain, fuel golf carts can better meet your needs with continuous power output and longer endurance. Unless there are special needs, electric golf carts are more applicable in daily use and are more in line with the current environmental protection trend.
Post time: Apr-24-2025
