Owning a golf cart can be a lot of fun, or it may be one of your primary vehicles for getting around your job site or neighborhood. No matter what you use your cart for, keeping it in good condition is vital. A large part of maintaining your golf cart is to take proper care of its battery system. Here are several ways to increase the lifespan of your golf cart’s lithium batteries to ensure you get the most out of your equipment and investment.
Charge Batteries As Necessary
One of the worst things you can do to any battery is using it until it dies before hooking it up to a charger. Fully draining the battery with each use can cause long-term damage, and you may eventually notice your battery draining faster than normal or failing to maintain a charge at all. We recommend not letting your golf cart’s battery bank fall below 20 percent of its total capacity before recharging.
Avoid Overcharging
One way to increase the lifespan of your golf cart’s battery bank is to avoid overcharging it. Overcharging lithium batteries may damage the cellular components and make them impossible to perform at the same level again. An overcharged battery may burn through charges faster and suffer from overheating. Fortunately, many modern battery chargers shut off automatically when a battery is at capacity to avoid this mishap. However, if your charger doesn’t shut off automatically, we recommend monitoring the charging process and manually removing the battery after charging.
Use the Battery Sparingly
Additional features on golf carts, like lights or the radio, use the battery’s power. It’s perfectly fine to use these features as needed, but using them too often when the cart isn’t in use will drain the battery, and you may inadvertently discharge your batteries beyond what is recommended for optimal performance. To improve the life and quality of your cart’s battery, avoid using these features when you don’t need to, particularly when you have already been discharging your batteries for a while.
BigBattery has helpful products and blog posts to help you learn more about maintaining your golf cart. Browse our selection of 36-volt and 48-volt lithium golf cart batteries to see which models work best for your cart, recreational vehicle, or home power system. If you have any additional questions, comments, or concerns, contact us anytime to speak with a member of our team.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long do LiFePO4 batteries last?
A quality LiFePO4 battery can commonly deliver 4,000 or more charge cycles, often roughly 10 years or longer under the right conditions. Depth of discharge, temperature, charge settings, storage habits, and the BMS all affect the result.
How many years is 4,000 cycles?
One full cycle per day is about 11 years. Three cycles per week is more than 25 years on paper, though calendar aging becomes the limit first.
What happens at the end of a LiFePO4 battery's life?
It does not suddenly stop. It loses capacity gradually. A battery rated for 4,000 cycles may be specified to keep around 80% of its original capacity at that point.
Does temperature affect LiFePO4 battery life?
Yes. High heat speeds aging, and charging below freezing can damage cells unless the battery has low-temperature protection or self-heating.
How long does a lithium battery last in an RV?
Many years, when charging sources are configured correctly and the battery is protected from freezing charge conditions. Annual cycles are often fewer than in a daily solar system, but conditions vary more.
How should I store a lithium battery?
Store it at a partial state of charge in a clean, dry, moderate-temperature location. Disconnect parasitic loads and check it periodically per the manufacturer's guidance.
