48V Lithium Golf Cart Batteries

48V lithium golf cart batteries offer many benefits including some serious weight savings, more efficient battery chemistry, a larger number of charging/discharging cycles, faster charging, longer range, etc.

However, the price of 48V lithium golf cart batteries is higher than the price of the 48V lead-acid golf cart battery pack - at least in the beginning. In the long run, 48V lithium batteries save both money and time ...

Updated: December 16, 2021.

48V Lithium Batteries Features and Specifications

First of all, 48V a is a serious voltage, so whatever You do, be sure to stay safe.

When compared with equivalent (same nominal voltage and nominal capacity) lead-acid batteries, lithium golf cart batteries feature:

- higher initial price, especially if there is a need of buying a dedicated lithium battery charger, which is recommended,

- lower weight, by a factor of 2-4x, especially when considering actual (real-life) capacity, not only nominal (20h) capacity,

- simplified maintenance - most golf carts lead-acid batteries are still wet/flooded batteries, requiring users to periodically check the level of electrolyte, while lithium batteries are practically maintenance-free batteries,

- larger number of charging/discharging cycles: while most lead-acid batteries may withstand 500-800 cycles down to 50% DoD, lithium batteries can easily withstand 2000-3000 cycles down to 100% DoD and 4000-5000 cycles down to 80% DoD.

- faster recharging: most lithium golf cart batteries may be recharged with 1C currents, although 0.2C is usually recommended current. This allows the lithium golf cart battery to be ready for another drive rather quickly. Lithium batteries are also very efficient in terms of accepting charge from regenerative braking, although this very much depends on the vehicle's battery brake controller, if present, of course. If not, braking energy is dissipated in the form of heat, which is not a very energy-efficient way of braking.

- connecting in series and/or parallel: while lead-acid batteries can be freely connected in parallel/series, as long as the same batteries from the same manufacturer are used, lithium batteries should be connected in series/parallel ONLY if explicitly permitted by their manufacturer and according to the manufacturer recommendations. Any other connection can cause damage, fire, or even an explosion of the battery.

- charging: lithium batteries should be charged with special CC/CV (Constant Current, Constant Voltage) battery chargers, while lead-acid battery chargers can be used only if permitted by the battery's manufacturer. Note: many manufacturers offer lithium battery chargers at very acceptable prices - highly recommended if You already don't own a dedicated lithium battery charger(s)!

Lithium Batteries Safety Issues

Lead-acid batteries are very safe batteries in terms of fire, explosion, and similar - they do contain dangerous acid, but generally, they are very safe batteries.

Lithium batteries are very sensitive in terms of temperature, charging/discharging currents, overcharging, over-discharging and similar.

So, to make them safe, lithium golf cart batteries use the safest lithium chemistry - Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄) - and feature built-in Battery Management Systems (BMS) which monitors the battery condition and if required, they disconnect the battery from the electric load (or charger) until proper conditions are met.

For short: If somebody offers You a 'cheap AND reliable' lithium battery without BMS, do NOT go for it - if You are going to use it in the golf cart, You will probably be sitting on top of it ... not recommended, to say the least ...

Which Battery Is The Right For Me?

When picking the right 48V lithium golf cart battery, always choose according to your own needs and preferences - after all, maybe You are not even using your golf cart for driving around the golf course - some people use them for hunting, off-the-grid trips, even camping ...

The expected range of the golf cart depends on the total energy stored in the batteries, driving style/speed, terrain, golf cart load, and similar, but on average, one may expect the following average range for the majority of 48V lithium golf carts:

- 48V 60 Ah: 20-25 miles (32-40 km) per single charge.

- 48V 90 Ah: 30-35 miles (48-56 km) per single charge.

- 48V 120 Ah: 40-45 miles (64-72 km) per single charge.

- 48V 150 Ah: 50-55 miles (80-88 km) per single charge.

- 48V 180 Ah: 60-65 miles (96-104 km) per single charge.

- 48V 210 Ah: 70-75 miles (112-120 km) per single charge.

- 48V 240 Ah: 80-85 miles (128-136 km) per single charge.

Note: On average, an 18 hole round of golf is 6-8 miles (9-13 km) long.

Another very important detail that may be overlooked is the required battery continuous and surge power.

While the surge current of the lead-acid batteries is only limited by their internal resistance, lithium batteries feature BMS which may cut off the battery if the surge power is too high.

So, before deciding which battery is the right for You, check your current battery pack capacity, dimensions of the battery compartment, but also, check the motor ratings, especially continuous max Watts/Amps and surge Watts/Amps - better safe than sorry.

Most Popular 48 Volt Lithium Golf Cart Batteries

The following comparison chart lists some of the most popular 48V lithium golf cart batteries with their most important features and specifications:

Of course, there are many other brands and battery models on the market, so be sure to choose according to your own needs and requirements.

Ampere Time 48V 100Ah 4.8KWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄) Battery

Ampere Time 48V 100Ah lithium battery is a very popular lithium battery, commonly used in various off-the-grid applications, security and medical systems, automotive, light industrial applications, and similar.

Its nominal capacity is 100Ah, and it features a maximum continuous charging/discharging current of 100 Amps and a surge current of 280 Amps for 5 seconds.

It is one of the heaviest 48V 100Ah lithium batteries and it weighs 99.2 pounds (~44.9 kg). But, it is a very robust and vibration-resistant battery, that also features an IP65 dust/water protection level.

Ampere Time 48V 100Ah support up to 4000-8000 charging/discharging cycles, depending on the DoD%.

The battery comes with M6 battery terminals, ensuring a firm connection between the battery and cables.

Ampere Time 48V 100Ah feature physical dimensions of (L x W x H) 18.98 x 17.32 x 6.97 inches (~48.2 x 44 x 17.7 cm).

This is a very reliable, tough, and durable battery, commonly used in many 48V applications.

But, it also has one very important issue: it should NOT be connected in series or parallel, not even with other very same Ampere Time 48V 100Ah batteries - it should be used only in one battery electric system!

So, if one Ampere Time 48V 100Ah battery fits your needs, it is a highly recommended model. If not, go for some other brand/battery model.

For more reviews and recommendations, feel free to check the Ampere Time 48V 100Ah 4.8KWh Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) Battery Amazon link (link opens in the new window).

Lynx Battery 48V 100Ah Lithium Iron Phosphate LiFePO₄ Rechargeable Prismatic Deep Cell Battery

Lynx lithium batteries are customizable deep discharge LiFePO4 batteries made from high-quality individual cells, protected by an intelligent BMS system.

Note: Lynx Batteries also offer batteries with other voltages and capacities and if You need a custom lithium battery pack, consider contacting them directly.

Lynx 48V 100Ah lithium battery feature a standard charging current of 0.5C, maximum charging current of 1C, and maximum discharging current of 2C.

It physical dimensions are (L x W x H) 16 x 14 x 5.5 inches (~40.6 x 35.6 x 14 cm) and it weighs ~89 pounds (~41.2 kg) - it is one of the lightest lithium 48V 100Ah batteries.

The number of supported charging/discharging cycles depends on the DOD%, but it supports at least 3000 cycles.

Note: by default, the battery comes disassembled with instructions on how to assemble it. Also, it can be connected in series and parallel, according to the manufacturer's instructions. For short, it is a very configurable battery system!

For more reviews and recommendations, feel free to check the Lynx 48V 100Ah Lithium Battery Amazon link (link opens in the new window).

RELiON Insight GC2 30Ah 48 Volt Lithium Iron Phosphate Golf Cart Battery

RELiON Insight GC2 30Ah 48 Volt lithium battery features physical dimensions of (L x W x H) 10.2 x 7.1 x 10.9 inches (~25.9 x 18.1 x 27.7 cm) and nominal capacity of 'only' 30 Ah. Also, it weighs 34.4 pounds (~15.6 kg).

However, RELiON Insight GC2 30Ah 48 Volt lithium battery is designed as GC2/GC8 battery size drop-in replacement (at least regarding the size!) that supports connecting up to 10 the very same batteries in parallel for battery packs up to 300Ah in total.

According to the manufacturer, a single RELiON Insight GC2 30Ah 48V battery features a maximum continuous discharge current of 100 Amps and a maximum surge current of 200 Amps for 15 seconds.

The maximum continuous charge current is 60 Amps, allowing the RELiON Insight GC2 battery to be recharged rather quickly.

For smaller golf carts, at least two (2) RELiON Insight GC2 30Ah 48V batteries are recommended, and for all other golf carts, at least three (3) batteries are recommended not only to increase the range but also to decrease the load of the individual battery.

For more reviews and recommendations, feel free to check the RELiON Insight GC2 30Ah 48 Volt Lithium Battery Amazon link (link opens in the new window).

Renogy 48V 50Ah LiFePO4 Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery

Renogy 48V 50Ah lithium battery is another relatively small battery commonly used in 48V systems.

Renogy 48V 50Ah lithium battery features intelligent BMS that allows the battery to be connected in parallel in order to create larger battery packs.

Physical dimensions of the battery are (L x W x H) 22.7 x 8.46 x 7.87 inches (57.6 x 21.5 x 20.0 cm) and it weighs 60.8 pounds (27.6 kg). Renogy 48V 50Ah lithium battery uses M8 battery terminals.

Maximum charging/discharging current is 50 Amps per battery with the 4500 supported charging/discharging cycles down to 80% DoD (@0.2C and 25°C).

Additional features include a communication port enabling communication between connected batteries, external devices, and host computers and a self-heating feature that keeps the battery charged in cold weather.

For more reviews and recommendations, feel free to check the Renogy 48V 50Ah LiFePO4 Smart Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Amazon link (link opens in the new window).

Lithium Golf Cart Batteries Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common Frequently Asked Questions about lithium golf cart batteries:

Are lithium batteries good in a golf cart?

Yes, they are - they allow the user to save plenty of weight, making the golf cart more agile. Also, they support a much larger number of deep discharge cycles than lead-acid batteries.

Although they are initially more expensive, in the long run, lithium golf cart batteries save money.

How much does a lithium battery cost for a golf cart? How many lithium batteries do I need for the golf cart?

It depends on the golf cart, number of batteries, their voltage, capacity, and similar.

Also, in many situations (all situations?) it is highly recommended to replace the old lead-acid battery charger with the new lithium battery charger.

Can I convert my golf cart to lithium batteries?

Yes, it is possible to convert the golf cart "at home" from lead-acid batteries to lithium batteries.

However, with all the possible things that could go wrong, do NOT do it, unless You are absolutely sure what are You doing.

How long will lithium batteries last in a golf cart?

If the batteries are properly dimensioned, charged, and stored, golf cart batteries may last up to 2000-3000 charging/discharging cycles or 3-10 years.

This all depends on the battery model, and how the battery is used and stored.

For example, it is not the same, not even for lithium batteries, if they are discharged down to 100% DoD or down to 80% DoD, if they are charged with the maximum recommended charging current or with just one-third of that current and similar.

Should I get a lithium battery for my golf cart?

If your old lead-acid batteries are getting weaker, consider lithium batteries - just be sure to check the battery compartment size and cables, check your current charger, etc.

Are lithium golf cart batteries worth the money?

If You use your golf cart on a daily basis, then yes, lithium golf cart batteries are worth it.

If You don't use your golf cart on a daily basis, but You want to increase the agility and maybe even range of your golf cart, then lithium golf cart batteries are probably worth it.

If You don't use your golf cart often and You are satisfied with its speed, agility, and range, then replace your old lead-acid batteries with new lead-acid batteries and enjoy your play.

Long Story Short: If You are looking for a 48V lithium golf cart battery (or battery pack), You can connect 4 (four) 12V or 2 (two) 24V lithium batteries in series (if such connection is supported) or get one 48V sufficiently large and strong lithium battery. Or, you can get 2 (two) or more 48V lithium golf cart batteries and connect them in parallel (if such connection is supported) to achieve the required capacity and output power.

Of course, these batteries can be used also as excellent and lightweight 48V inverter batteries, solar batteries, automotive/light-industrial batteries, etc.

Again, always choose according to your own needs and requirements and stay safe. If unsure, read the manual (again), contact the battery manufacturer directly or find a certified professional.

And whatever You do, stay safe!