Wild Wild West is a term I often hear used by consumers and even people in the battery industry to describe the current state of the lithium golf car battery market. Gone are the traditional US supply chains of the past, now replaced with products manufactured in Asia. There is existing and new US brands I refer to as “the majors.” Throw in some smaller US based “importers” and the “factory direct” competitors and you have a very crowded sub segment of the battery industry.
Every golf car owner will cross the lithium conversion bridge. Honestly, the lithium battery upgrade does improve the overall ownership experience. I expect most working golf cars will be converted to lithium within the next decade. So, how should golf car owners navigate the lithium battery industry? I recommend using multiple sources of information to figure out which brand, size, and type battery fits your individual needs.
Getting a reference from someone you know is one of the best ways to obtain firsthand information. You can see it, test it, and get answers to all your questions. Was it hard to install? What did it cost? Where did you buy it? Et cetera. Personal references are great to have, but do not rely on your neighbor’s advice solely. Chances are he is not a battery technician or highly experienced with golf cars. He took a leap of faith as well based on his own knowledge, needs, and budget. Is he 100% sure his battery will last 8 or 10 years throughout the warranty? Will this company even be around long enough to honor that warranty?
Social media, or more specifically Facebook, is a suitable place to find information from people that have already converted to lithium batteries. There are golf car brand and model specific FB groups, as well as battery specific groups like the LIT group that can be useful resources. The problem with Facebook is that individuals in the battery industry are in these groups and can bombard consumers with messages and adverts. Often, those same individuals may come across online as consumers appearing to give honest feedback. You must decipher who is a real consumer from those trying to influence you for financial gain. It can be tricky.
YouTube is another wonderful platform that potential customers use to decide which product is right for them. They can use specific searches to learn about different batteries in their specific model golf car. There are product unboxing, review, and installation videos available which can be immensely helpful. There are some things to keep in mind as you consume this content. The most important thing to remember is the content producer more than likely received some sort of financial gain from creating that content. Whether it be a free battery or an actual dollar amount, there is nearly always an exchange happening to influence consumers. When choosing YouTube content, I always recommend a brick and mortar dealer over an influencer, business owners have more at stake.
Local Dealers are a great resource for obtaining information on golf car lithium batteries. They make their living selling and installing batteries, you will not find anyone more knowledgeable in your area than the golf car dealers. The only potential downside to consulting with your local dealer is that they normally only carry one or two lithium brands, and they will steer you towards those brands to make a sale. Keep in mind that dealers put their reputation on the line as well when they sell a product. Check their Google reviews and time in business, these are great indicators of a local company that does honest business.
The lithium golf car battery industry is the Wild Wild West of the battery industry, and it will get worse before it gets better. There will be more products, brands you have never heard of, and factory direct sellers using platforms like Amazon that will continue to flood the market. I recommend choosing two or three products based on recommendations I gathered in person and on social media. I would search those products on YouTube, research the company on Google, visit their website, and read the fine print about their products’ warranty. I recommend using a local dealer, the additional support can be a game changer, especially in the event of a warranty claim. A dealer can also handle the installation if you are not going to tackle the task on your own. Once your questions are answered and you feel good about your decision, pull the trigger. If you have done your homework, you will have a zero-maintenance battery that should last 10 plus years and hopefully come with a US based warranty. Good luck finding your forever battery, it is a dusty trail out there.
Cory Wilkinson, VP of Marketing for Bolt Energy USA, has been focused on the lithium golf car battery retail space since 2018 when he converted his first golf car to lithium with used EV cells. As a battery retailer, Cory consults with golf car owners nearly every day on the advantages of lithium golf car batteries.
