Winter Storage For Golf Carts With Lithium Batteries

If you recently bought an electric golf cart, or if this is the first year you have a model with a lithium-ion battery instead of an older lead-acid model, you may not be sure how to prepare your cart for the winter. No matter what type of cart you have, maintaining it throughout the winter months is an essential part of keeping it running and lasting throughout the years.

While winter storage for golf carts with lithium batteries is a somewhat more straightforward process with less work and hassle, it’s still good to know what to expect. BigBattery is here to help guide you through every step of the process and help ensure your cart remains in solid condition throughout the winter.

Preparation Before Storage

If your cart isn’t equipped for snow days, or you simply don’t plan on taking it out much during the colder months, there are several helpful steps you can do to get things ready for storing your cart and its batteries over the winter. The first thing we suggest is giving everything a thorough cleaning. Washing the exterior of your cart and ensuring everything is clean is always a good idea before putting it into any long-term storage, winter or otherwise.

Throughout storage, your golf cart will likely collect dirt and dust, so giving it a thorough cleaning beforehand helps keep it in better condition when stored away. We also recommend cleaning the battery by wiping it down with a lightly dampened cloth. Unlike lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries are easy to clean and maintain from the outside, but it’s always smart to give them an extra wipe-down, particularly if your lithium batteries have open terminals.

When preparing your golf cart and battery for winter storage, the best option is to fully charge the battery before putting it away. If not fully charged, a charge of around 60-80 percent is acceptable. It’s not a good idea to store a battery that is less than 50 percent charged, as it’s typically quite harmful to the long-term performance of the battery when left at such a low charge for extended periods.

Where To Store Your Golf Cart

One of the most vital steps in winterizing your golf cart is finding a proper place in which to store it. The absolute best place to keep your cart is in a completely covered shed. You want a dry and protected area to keep your cart and the battery free from the outside elements.

If you don’t have a full shed in which to store your cart, other helpful options exist. We still suggest keeping the cart underneath some sort of roof, such as a carport or porch, to keep rain, snow, and direct sunlight off of it. In colder regions, you may also want to invest in a protective covering to place over the cart and reduce exposure to exterior elements.