Founded in 1925 by George Reginald Godber and Carl Speer, Trojan Battery Company has revolutionized the golf car industry for decades with innovations like the world’s first deep cycle 8V and 12V batteries and Maxguard® Advanced Design Separator technology. Recent golf car product advancements include GC2 24V, 36V, and 48V lithium-ion batteries, which are drop-in ready and designed to maximize performance, and Advanced Energy Storage (AES) batteries that delivers up to three times the cycle life of conventional Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries.
As we celebrate 100 years of technological advances with our employees, partners, and customers, we reflect on the key milestones that have shaped our legacy. These include pioneering the first lead-acid deep-cycle golf car battery in the 1950s and debuting the up to 60-mile-per-charge Lithium OnePack™ in 2024.
A Legacy Born: The Founding of Trojan Battery
Trojan Battery’s journey began in 1899 with the birth of George Godber. During World War I, Godber served on a US Navy Holland L-Class submarine, where he managed the electric batteries that powered the ship’s propulsion while submerged. After the war, Godber and fellow Navy veteran Carl Speer repaired car and truck batteries for an auto parts business in downtown Los Angeles. In 1925, they opened their own shop, and Speer, who had played both offense and defense for the USC football team, suggested the name Trojan Battery, inspired by the school’s famous Trojan horse mascot.
In 1952, Trojan Battery collaborated with Royce Seevers from Autoette to pioneer the first deep-cycle golf car battery. Designed for a golfer who had difficulty walking, the Autoette Golfmobile was equipped with specialized Trojan batteries that powered a converted 24-volt Dodge 1½ hp electric starter motor. These batteries were the precursor to the 20 AH J217 “Jumbo,” which featured high-quality rubber and glass separators and was bonded with a specialized pasting formula developed in collaboration with Joe Orsino. Renowned for its low maintenance, reliability, and extended cycle life, the long-standing J217 was ultimately replaced by the T105 in the 1980s.
During that same decade, Trojan Battery developed the Maxguard Advanced Design Separator, significantly improving golf car performance and battery life. Introduced as an innovative alternative to the ubiquitous Permalife separator, Maxguard doubled cycle life with only minimal cost increases and helped Trojan Battery secure nearly 100% of the golf car OEM business. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Trojan Battery launched the world’s first deep-cycle 8V and 12V golf car batteries, followed by the HydroLink™ single-point watering system in 2009.
Driving Caddie Innovation on the Green: Trojan’s Lithium-Ion and AES AGM Batteries
Trojan Battery’s recent innovations, like the OnePack 48V 105Ah Lithium Battery Pack, continue to revolutionize golf cars and back-of-house utility fleets. This durable, fast-charging, maintenance-free battery offers up to a 60-mile range on a single charge—ideal for long days on the course—and features an advanced battery management system (BMS) to prevent short circuits and thermal runaway. Golfers can monitor and manage the OnePack’s temperature and charge status using the intuitive Bluetooth SmartBattery(R) app for iPhone and Android. With an operating temperature range of -4°F to 140°F (-20°C to 60°C), it ensures reliable performance in both hot and cold weather. Designed for long-term value, the OnePack provides an eight-year limited warranty, up to a 10-year lifespan, and up to 4,000 cycles at 25˚C.
The new Trojan AES AGM battery lineup also optimizes golf car and back-of-house utility fleet performance while extending range. Delivering up to three times the cycle life compared to standard AGM batteries, they maintain performance and capacity in extreme deep-cycling (up to 100% DoD), support partial state of charge (PSoC), and effectively dissipate heat. Reliably operating in temperatures ranging from -40°F to 140°F (-40°C to 60°C), these maintenance-free AES AGM batteries provide increased torque and speed, extended run times, and faster charging.
Leading the Charge: Trojan AES AGM’s Award-Winning Performance
When it comes to golf car batteries, performance you can trust matters. That’s why Trojan AES AGM batteries—renowned for reliability, efficiency, and long-lasting power—have earned numerous product, technical, and marketing awards from prestigious industry organizations and publications. The batteries won the 2023 Gold LLEAP (Leadership in Lift Equipment and Access Platforms) Award from Lift and Access magazine and received Rental’s 2023 Editor’s Choice Award. In 2024, they were named Product of the Year in the Batteries category at the IAPA (International Awards for Powered Access) and clinched the ISSA Show North America Innovation Award.
Additionally, the Trojan Battery marketing team received the 2024 BCI (Battery Council International) Amplify Award for the “Say Yes to Trojan AES!” marketing campaign. The flagship batteries also earned the top spot in the Power & Renewable Energy category from FacilitiesNet’s 6th Annual Vision Awards, recognized for reliability, efficiency, and environmental stewardship. Moreover, the batteries won two Maintenance Sales News (MSN) New Products Awards in the 2024 Floorcare and Replacement Parts categories.
Lastly, the Trojan Lithium OnePack recently powered a golf car to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, CO. Driven by Austin King, owner of World Famous Golf Carts, the cart climbed 20 miles up Pikes Peak Highway, maintaining a steady 22 MPH on steep slopes and completing the journey with a remaining 26% battery charge.
A Perfect Swing with Trojan R&D
Since the 1960s, the Trojan Battery R&D team in Santa Fe Springs has driven flooded lead acid deep-cycle battery innovation. Notable examples include Maxguard® Advanced Design Separator technology, which increases battery life and boosts overall performance by improving resistance to battery stratification. Alpha Plus® Paste with T2 Technology optimizes porosity and electrochemical processing for sustained maximum performance and increased ampere-hours. Lastly, Grid Technology, a lead-antimony alloy mixture, strengthens structural adhesion, reduces corrosion, and improves current flow.
The Trojan Lithium factory was established in Santa Fe Springs, CA, in 2022, alongside our flooded battery factory. In 2025 and beyond, the Santa Fe Springs R&D team, along with our other three U.S.-based factories, will continue pushing the boundaries of AGM and lithium-ion battery technology to enhance the performance and range of golf cars and utility vehicles. Current initiatives focus on increasing energy density and cycle life, optimizing charge and discharge depths, and boosting power delivery for greater torque and speed. As artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) evolve, these capabilities will enable next-generation battery management systems to more efficiently regulate charging, discharging, and thermal management.
On the sustainability side, Trojan Battery is committed to safe disposal and recycling. Every lead-acid Trojan battery comes with a lifetime recycling policy. For lithium-ion batteries, we follow the latest guidelines and best practices for recycling, upcycling, and repurposing, working closely with partners and organizations to ensure environmentally responsible end-of-life management.
Conclusion
With a focus on performance and sustainability, we continuously drive innovation in battery energy efficiency and smart technologies. Flagship products like the GC2 48V lithium-ion battery, AES batteries, and the Lithium OnePack deliver the power to drive farther and faster. Golfers and fleet operators can confidently navigate in any weather across the fairway, over steep hills, and through challenging roughs for a full day on the green.
Looking ahead, we’re exploring new technologies and advanced materials to unlock greater power, extend battery life, and reduce environmental impact. As we reflect on our past, we look forward to building an exciting future—bringing Trojan Battery Company full circle as we continue to lead the industry we helped shape.
We’re excited to celebrate our 100-year milestone with customers and partners at the 2025 PGA Show in Orlando, Florida. The Trojan booth will feature our range of deep-cycle batteries, including the OnePack lithium-ion batteries, Trojan AES AGM, and flooded lead-acid batteries.
