Dusting off our EV

[Tom]

We've had this EV a few years. It has sufficient range for our typical day's driving, and them some. Added some wagon wheels to spruce it up.

 

[Lou Schneider]

I converted mine to lithium last year when the used batteries it came with gave out It's a 36 volt cart and out of curiosity I installed (3) $300 Chins 12 volt 100 a/h LiFeP04 batteries. I couldn't see any reason they wouldn't work but figured if they didn't work in the cart I could use them in my RV. They run the cart very nicely for about a week at a time running around the RV park and cost less than buying (6) 6 volt batteries. Single unit drop in battery packs are also available.

 

[Tom]

I converted mine to lithium last year when the used batteries it came with gave out It's a 36 volt cart and out of curiosity I installed (3) $300 Chins 12 volt 100 a/h LiFeP04 batteries. I couldn't see any reason they wouldn't work but figured if they didn't work in the cart I could use them in my RV. They run the cart very nicely for about a week at a time running around the RV park and cost less than the cost of buying (6) 6 volt batteries. Single unit drop in battery packs are also available.

Lou, where did you get the batteries? Brand?

I replaced our 6 wet cells a few years ago, but I suspect they'll die on me sooner or later.

 

[Tom]

In other threads, I've seen messages comparing the price of electricity in different communities. Did I mention the price of electricity to charge that power-hungry beast at our WY property? In UK vernacular, I refer to it as "cheap as chips" (UK 'chips' = French fries). I can't find the last statement (we get billed a couple of times a year +/-), but the prior bill shows a whopping $0.06/kwh. Looks like it had been that price for several years.

I'm off to find the latest statement to see if they hiked it to $0.065/kwh; I might need to vacate WY!

 

[Lou Schneider]

Lou, where did you get the batteries? Brand?

I replaced our 6 wet cells a few years ago, but I suspect they'll die on me sooner or later.

Amazon. I chose Chins when their price dropped below $300 each. Get one with low temperature charging protection if your lows will drop below freezing.

Today Chins is Li Time and they have a Group 24 battery that will drop right into a 6 volt battery slot. Mine are Group 37 size so I had to modify my battery tray. I measured 80 amps with a stalled motor (maximum current) and 40-50 amps under normal operation, well within the battery's 100 amp maximum sustained current rating.

Amazon.com

I homebrewed a 40 volt charger (13.6 volts per battery) out of (3) 12 volt power supplies in series for the lead acid batteries because the golf cart came without a charger. Then I upped it to 42 volts (14 volts per battery - 14.5 volts is the maximum) when I installed the Chins. Now you can get lithium enabled golf cart chargers for $150. You'll also need a shunt based battery monitor because lithium's voltage doesn't sag much as they discharge. Li Time has a nice one for $65 on Amazon.

 

[Tom]

Amazon. I chose Chins when their price dropped below $300 each. Get one with low temperature charging protection if your lows will drop below freezing.

Today Chins is Li Time and they have a Group 24 battery that will drop right into a 6 volt battery slot. Mine are Group 37 size so I had to modify my battery tray. I measured 80 amps with a stalled motor (maximum current) and 40-50 amps under normal operation, well within the battery's 100 amp maximum sustained draw rating.

Amazon.com

I homebrewed a 36 volt (42 volt) charger out of (3) 12 volt power supplies in series because the golf cart came without a charger. Now you can get lithium based golf cart chargers for $150-200. You'll also need a shunt based battery monitor because lithium's voltage doesn't sag much as they discharge. Li Time has a nice one for $65 on Amazon.

Thanks Lou.