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For golf carts, battery longevity could improve, as could their ability to withstand colder temperatures. At Shoreline Golf Links in Mountain View, for a while

For golf carts, battery longevity could improve, as could their ability to withstand colder temperatures. At Shoreline Golf Links in Mountain View, for a while they switched the front and back nines, so that when their older golf carts' batteries ran out of juice, it would happen a shorter distance from the clubhouse. Edit: Also, gas powered golf carts have other advantages. They can provide more power, which is an advantage on hills. A typical electric cart will go slow on some hills that you'll face on golf courses. Another is that they weigh less -- on turf that means less damage, especially if it's soggy. Let's not forget charging hookups, charging times, and other inconveniences -- maybe they mean you need more golf cart inventory, or more battery inventory? I don't know if golf cart batteries are quick-replaceable. About half of golf courses use gas powered carts for reasons.

digi_owl 12y ago
I suspect the problem is more one of cart design than anything related to the type of engine when it comes to hill climbing. It would not surprise me if the electric carts have a minimal at best gearbox between the engine and the wheels. This makes for a simpler cart, but also limits the size of engine you can put in to allow for rider comfort and safety. In contrast a gas engine pretty much need a gearbox to get moving at all, as it needs to get up to revs before it really delivers. So in essence a electric engine could benefit from a gearbox for the inverse of a gas engine.