A Viability Study of a Lithium Battery Powered Golf Cart

Abstract

There is a recent trend among low speed electric vehicle manufacturers to update traction batteries from older, heavy chemistries to new, lighter battery chemistries. In this viability study, a Club Car Villager LSV electric golf cart was converted from the original flooded lead acid batteries to hard carbon/mixed oxide lithium batteries. The range and speed of both chemistries are compared. This paper demonstrates a potential operational savings for ight electric vehicle users. Despite a reduction in volume, the lithium batteries outperformed the lead acid in both range (46.7% increase) and charging time (95% reduction). The range increase was due, in part, to a reduction in battery weight of 62.5%. In addition to range test results, implementation of the lithium battery management system and J1772 charger system used to support this conversion are discussed.