The 36 Volt Lithium Battery: OKMO 50Ah vs 100Ah Golf Cart Batteriy Face-Off
By Nicholas Gallagher (8-Year Cart Modder | Test Rig: EZ-GO TXT 48V→36V Conversion)
1. Lead-Acid’s Nightmare? Lithium’s Brutal Dominance
My old 4x8V lead-acid bricks (120kg dead weight!):
-
Anxiety by hole 9, hills felt like dragging anchors
-
Winter range: 70% max, acid burns from maintenance
-
2-year replacement cycle → paid to dump toxic waste
OKMO LiFePO4 game-changers:
✅ Half the weight (50Ah: 23kg / 100Ah: 46kg)
✅ Zero maintenance – no more electrolyte checks
✅ <3% monthly self-discharge – sits all winter, starts instantly
2. Golf Cart Batterys 50Ah vs 100Ah: Choose Wrong, Regret Deeply
Scenario 1: Single Rider (50Ah = Bare Minimum)
-
Range: 18 flat holes @ 30% left, but hole 16 hill crashed voltage to 34V (speed controller screamed!)
-
Sacrifices: No music/phone charging, sweat through summer rounds
-
Lao Zhang’s Verdict:
“Like driving a gutless econobox – always white-knuckling the ‘fuel gauge’!”
Scenario 2: Two Players + Gear (100Ah = Total Domination)
-
Stress Test:
-
330lb load (2 adults + bags + cooler)
-
8x consecutive 10° hill climbs (mountain course sim)
-
Blasting Bluetooth speakers + device charging
-
-
Results:
▶️ 36 holes drained 78%
▶️ 30% faster hill starts (zero voltage sag) -
Lao Zhang’s Joy:
“100Ah unleashes the beast! Even the motor whine sounds meaner!”
3. Unboxing Reality: DIY Wins & Fails
🔧 50Ah Compromises
-
Space Saver: Fits stock battery tray (size = 3 lead-acid cells)
-
Achilles Heel: M8 terminals (stock carts use M10 – adapters mandatory)
-
Bloody Lesson: Forgot adapters? Say hello to 1hr drill-bit surgery!
🔨 100Ah Pro Modder Perks
-
Upgrade Ready: Parallel ports for future expansion
-
Genius Touch: Steel case with vibration-dampening rubber (zero rattles off-road)
-
Pro Tip:
// Stock wiring too wimpy? Fix it: 1. Ditch factory 6mm² cables 2. Run 10AWG silicone wires (handles 120℃) 3. Add 300A auto-resetting breaker
4. Hard Truths: BMS Betrayals & Triumphs
-
Shared Wins:
▶️ Starts at -20℃ (-5℃ kills lead-acid)
▶️ Instant overcharge cutoff (verified 14.6V shutdown) -
Shared Pains:
❗ No SOC% display (guessing charge via voltage = voodoo)
❗ Weak 50mA balancing – 0.1V+ cell drift after overnight full charge
5. The $300 Ultimatum: Freedom or Regret?
| Specs | 50Ah | 100Ah |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599 | $1,099 |
| Range (2-pax) | 14 holes (panic mode) | 36 holes (god mode) |
| Install Hassle | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Regret Rate | 78% (user surveys) | 9% |
Nicholas Gallagher’s Final Call
“50Ah suits solo flat-course players ONLY! Got friends/hills/self-respect? – GO 100Ah!
That extra $500 buys:
Never begging for a tow on hole 17
AC-cooled dignity in summer
Future-proof expansion slots
Swapping lead-acid for lithium is like ditching a Nokia for a smartphone – don’t be stingy!”
(Data sources: KEYSIGHT battery analyzer | Inclinometer | Load sensors)