Top 5 Electric Golf Cart Speed Upgrades
This article explores the Top 5 performance and speed upgrades for an electric golf cart. Electric golf cars are much easier to modify for improved performance than gas golf carts.
Electric and electronic technology for electric golf carts is constantly improving over time and many of the speed upgrades for electric golf carts are as simple as swapping an electric motor or controller and possibly upgrading power cable gauge.
To get the most performance out of your electric cart, read the Top 5 performance speed modifications for electric golf carts.
5. Rebuild the Electric Motors.
If you need more power from your existing golf cart electric motors but can’t stretch to buying new motors, many specialist companies can rebuild your existing motor. The performance from a rebuilt motor is identical than from a standard motor, or the motor can be rewound for a performance upgrade. Repairing or having the motor rewound will get more speed and torque without damaging the motor. This can help you speed up or torque up almost every cart, for heavy duty use.
4. Hi-Speed Gears.
Replacement golf cart hi-speed gears can be used in combination with other performance parts to increase the speed of your electric golf cart. If you want to get the most out of other speed upgrades, high speed gears are one of the things you can install to help boost the top speed of the electric cart. The majority of high speed gear sets include the intermediate gear and input shaft, and are available for most models of carts from the main electric golf cart manufacturers.
The gear sets available on the market alters the gear ratio in the cart’s transaxle from around 12.5:1 down to 8:1. On most cars with stock tires, motor, and controller, it will increase the top speed from approximately 12-13 mph, up to about 20-21 mph.
3. Batteries.
Electric golf carts utilize a bank of standard lead-acid batteries to run the electric motor. The two most commonly available power choices are 36 volt or 48 volt – in the majority of cases, 48 volt electric golf cart batteries provide better performance than 36v models. For 36v electric carts it may be possible to upgrade the power system to run 48v power, but this would probably be a major undertaking requiring different controller hardware and larger gauge cabling.
Electric golf cart battery technology has greatly improved over the last few years, so older electric carts can benefit from a replacement set of new batteries. A new set of cart batteries will transform the performance of an older electric cart, bringing back the strong pulling power with the torque that was lost with aging batteries.
2. Speed Controller.
Modern electric golf carts use a PWM (pulse width modulation) speed controller which is a computer that sends pulses of power to the motor thousands of times per second. Very short pulses cause the motor to go slowly. Long pulses cause it to go fast.
Upgraded performance golf cart speed controllers are available from 500-800amp ratings and can be used to provide more torque for golf carts with backseats, cargo beds or for use on especially hilly terrain. With a performance speed controller it may be necessary to upgrade the power cables to at least 4 gauge.
Most performance speed controllers will work on 36 volt or 48 volt carts. You can either purchase a replacement performance motor controller combo or visit a dealer, who can re-program your existing controller for more speed. Typically you will loose low end torque when a controller is re-programmed for more speed. If that doesn’t give you the driving characteristics that you require, a new motor and high output controller will allow you to keep your low end torque.
1. Replace Electric Motors.
Replacing the stock electric motors in your electric golf cart with performance motors will give an increase in speed and torque. The extra torque allows you to carry heavier cargo loads or more people in the electric cart. For electric limo golf carts, performance electric motors are a must.
No matter what motor you may need, find it here at Golf Cart City Online. Stock replacements, high speed, high torque, and many others in between. We list the fastest and strongest electric golf cart motors and electric vehicle motors.