Electric golf carts have increased in popularity for short commutes due to rising gas prices and an increasing awareness of environmental pollution and waste. Charging an electric golf cart costs approximately 30 cents, giving you a 25-35 mile range on a full charge. These savings can really add up over time, but even better, electric golf cars reduce the harmful impacts placed on our environment. The time to go green is now.

Solar Roof Top Kits

Golf cart solar panels are easy to attach to the roof of a golf cart. People who utilize solar golf cart kits may also be able to qualify for the 30% Federal Tax for solar power, so you will also be able to save money by turning your golf cart green. People may still think that golf carts are only for golf courses. Times have changed and with the ever-increasing gas prices, more towns across America are accepting golf cars as normal transportation.

PowerFilm Solar, PowerDrive Golf Car Solar Panels (www. powerfilmsolar.com) 

• Fits most models and brands using each carts existing mounting system. 

• Carbon neutral, ideal for environmentally sustainable golf course management. 

• Charges while in use, resulting in a increased rang on the course of 30%-50% 

• Solar Powered Fleets reduce their consumption from the electric grid by 50%-75% 

• Prolongs the life of costly batteries up to 50% more. 

• Does not affect the manufacturer’s warranty

Did you know that one gallon of gasoline used while driving actually produces almost 20lbs of CO2! How can this be, a gallon of gas only weighs about 7lbs? Actually, most of the weight of the CO2 does not come from the gasoline itself. It is produced during combustion of the engine and most of the CO2 comes from the oxygen in the air. When the gas burns, carbon and hydrogen separate. The hydrogen combines with oxygen, making water (H2O), and carbon combines with oxygen forming carbon dioxide (CO2). Due to two parts oxygen being brought in from the atmosphere, this is where the extra weight comes from. The average U.S. household will spend $3,475 a year just fueling vehicles. This is approximately 18,600lbs of CO2 a year!

If your golf cart substitutes 100 gallons of gas throughout the year, that would be equivalent to saving 660lbs of waste going to a landfill…or saving 37 cylinders of propane used for home barbecuing or saving over 2 barrels of oil from being consumed. Another go green factor, electric golf cart batteries are recyclable. Lead-acid batteries are the environmental success story of our time. In fact, a National Recycling Rate Study commissioned by Battery Council International (BCI) reveals that batteries are being recycled at a rate of 98 percent. Compared to 55% of aluminum soft drink and beer cans, 45% of newspapers, 26% of glass bottles and 26% of tires, lead-acid batteries top the list of the most highly recycled consumer product. The goal is to recycle all lead batteries. While it’s important to know that all the component of a recyclable lead battery can be reused, it’s comforting to know that they actually are….

The lead-acid battery gains its environmental edge from its closed-loop life cycle. The typical new lead-acid battery contains 60 to 80 percent recycled lead and plastic. Battery users return their used lead batteries to a drop-off site (like our golf car service department), where they are then sent back to the battery wholesaler (we use Safe-Start), then to secondary lead smelters.

Secondary smelters melt and refine the lead plates and separate the plastic. Under strict environmental regulations, the lead and plastic are reclaimed and sent to a reprocessor for manufacture into new plastic products. The purified lead is delivered to the battery manufacturers and other industries. The acid is collected and either reused or treated. Eventually, the original battery components may end up being used to make new lead batteries.

The recycling cycle goes on indefinitely. That means the lead and plastic in the lead-acid battery in your golf car have been – and will continue to be — recycled many, many times. This makes lead-acid battery disposal extremely successful from both environmental and cost perspectives. So, not only are golf cars a fun and inexpensive way to ride, it’s environmentally friendly way to go green!