Questions About Buying A New Golf Cart - Voltage?

[UFGator]

Hi. I live in Florida. I want to have a street legal electric golf cart to drive around my local low speed roads. I would like something that goes over 20 mph. Maybe even up to 25 or 30mph (this may be absurd. I don't know enough about it yet to determine). I don't want gas. I would like to get a used golf cart, make it street legal, and then perhaps work on it over time to make it faster. It doesn't matter if it is ratty or old. I'm pretty handy. I can paint it and fix it up. I plan on driving it around on local roads to run errands and such. My questions are as follows:

1. What type of golf cart should I start with (Brand, size)?
2. How many volts should I start with and why? How many volts is a typical golf course golf cart?
3. Is there a "how to" book out there that explains how an electric cart works and how to work on them?

Thanks for your patience. I hate newbees!
Joel

 

[wildthing]

it all depends on what kind of cart your looking for and how much work you want to do to it i prefer ez-go but i have seen alot of other carts that are just as good most all electric carts are 36 or 48 volts there are all kinds of books and manuals out there to help you work on them there is resource pages on this site to help you too

 

[johnny9]

street legal,hahaha...well,i live in ocala and theres no such thing unless you live in a comunity that alows carts..ive called the sherif,hwy patrol,forest ranger and dmv..there are no titles for carts in fla..the local sherrif told me to put a slow moveing vehicle sign on back and no one should mess with me..and if i have any law officer problems to then throw a hand full of hay in back,,and now its a farm work vehicle..people drive lawn mowers all around my paved neck of the woods and never get in trouble..but,if you drive a 4 wheeler,dirt bike or ? and get caught its a 500.00 fine..i think its cause they go to fast also..i havent got in trouble yet so hopefully i wont...i know what ya mean tho,,we want to be legal..
as long as its not a state road and you have the slow vehicle sign they cant do much im told..hopefully.
i was told for me to ride in the national forest where 4 wheelers go all i have to do is keep a copy of my bill of sale on the cart at all times,,so i put it in a ziplock and stapled it under the seat..and can only travel on 4 wheeler trails and not on numbered roads even tho there dirt...cruel world for cart lovers here in fla sometimes,hopefully things will change in a year or 2..john

 

[HotRodCarts]

A stock EZGO PDS at 36 volts will get run 19-20 MPH with the speed plug installed ($10.00)...

A stock Club Car IQ at 48 volts cart will run 19-20 MPH with the controller programmed to private mode...

I'd look at the above models if you plan on riding on the streets most of the time...

 

[UFGator]

You should check out my post under the "Street Legal Golf Cart". What you are saying is not correct according to Federal and Florida law. Golf Carts are DEFINITELY street legal if they have the proper modifications made to them. For example:
1. They need to go at least 20 mph, but no more than 25.
2. They have to have headlights, seat belts, break lights, parking break, side view mirrors, rear view mirrors, etc.
3. They can only be driven ON roads that have a speed limit of 35mph or less ( They can be driven across any road ).
Once you have made the car legal according to federal standards no one can keep you off of any Florida road that is posted as 35mph or less.

 

[UFGator]

Thanks. Can you recommend a particular book for me to read? I looked on the sight and I don't see the resource page you are referring to.

 

[UFGator]

I have to be able to get over 20mph. Are there any modifications I can do to get ether of these models to go over 20mph?

 

[wildthing]

the resource pages are under each brand of cart listed under golf cart repair and troubleshooting on this site it has wiring diagrams and a bit of everything else

 

[HotRodCarts]

A higher amp controller will bring the EZGO PDS or the Club Car IQ over 20 MPH. Taller tires will also bring either one over 20 MPH but you'd need to lift the cart...

 

[johnny9]

ufgator...im not saying you were wrong by no means..i was just saying what ive learned in a few days of trying to do the right thing and be legal...everyone told me that there is no registration for carts in fla..just carry the bill of sale is what they tell me so thats what im doing..ive read your other posts also..i will call tomorow and see what i can find out when i read what youve posted to them,thanks,john

 

[UFGator]

OK. Let me know what you find out. So right now you are driving your cart around with no plates? Just the bill of sale? Have you made it street legal (headlights, breaklights, etc)?

 

[johnny9]

i have a slow moveing vehicle sign in the rear like i was told..maybe because i havent installed the light kit yet..
they told me the same thing again today...there are no titles for golf carts and no registration...
i feel like im gettin the run around but the same answers again...i will call again and say i just installed lights and turn signals on my cart and see what they tell me tomorrow...maybe thats my problem,,i told them it dosent have lights on it,it is the way it came from the factory...i will post what i find out tomorrow,john

 

[UFGator]

John. I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that you are calling it a "golf cart" instead of a what the State of Florida calls an "Low Speed Vehicle (LSV)"? I guess if they state is not asking you to title your "golf cart" that means that you don't need to:

1. Pay a yearly registration fee.
2. Pay for fee for title and tag.
3. Have proof of SEPERATE insurance for your cart.

Sounds to me like you have the best deal going for you right now. If the cops are saying you are OK, you might be better off just going with the flow. I know a lot of the cops in my town. I will certainly try to use the cart without getting it registered, but I don't know how long that will fly...

 

[johnny9]

Until it blows up and i get a big block honda anyway,haha,john