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What’s the Maximum Speed? How Fast Will A Golf Cart Go?
How fast can golf carts go? Most golf carts from the factory go about 12 to 15 miles per hour (mph). This speed is fine for places like a golf course or a small neighborhood. But the exact speed can change a lot. It depends on if the cart uses gas or electricity, if someone changed it, and where you are driving it. Let’s look closer at how fast these carts really go and why.
The Average Golf Cart Speed
When you see a golf cart on a course or around town, it’s likely going at its normal speed. The average golf cart speed set by makers is usually between 12 mph and 15 mph. Why this speed?
* Safety First: This speed is slow enough for crowded places like golf courses. It helps prevent accidents.
* Made for the Job: Golf carts are built for short trips at slow speeds. They carry people and gear quietly.
* Rules: Many places have rules about how fast golf carts can go. Makers set the speed to meet these rules.
This 12-15 mph range is the standard. It is what most people mean when they ask about the average golf cart speed.
Electric Speed vs. Gas Speed
Golf carts come in two main types: electric and gas. Their top speeds can be different right from the start.
Electric Golf Cart Speed
Electric golf carts use batteries and an electric motor.
* How They Go: Electricity stored in batteries powers a motor. This motor turns the wheels.
* Typical Speed: Most electric golf carts also go around 12 to 15 mph when new.
* How Speed is Set: The speed is mostly set by a part called the controller. The controller tells the motor how much power to use. Makers set the controller to limit the top speed.
* Good Points: Electric carts are quiet and do not pollute the air as much. They have good power right when you press the pedal.
* Speed Limiters: The controller acts as a speed limiter. Changing or reprogramming the controller is a main way people try to increase electric golf cart speed.
Gas Golf Cart Top Speed
Gas golf carts have a small engine, like a car engine but smaller.
* How They Go: A small engine burns gas to make power. This power turns the wheels through a simple transmission.
* Typical Speed: Gas carts also usually have a top speed around 12 to 15 mph from the factory. Some might go a bit faster, maybe up to 19 mph.
* How Speed is Set: Gas carts use a part called a governor. The governor stops the engine from going too fast. This limits the cart’s top speed.
* Good Points: Gas carts can go longer distances without needing to “refuel” (fill the tank). They can sometimes have more power for hills or pulling things.
* Speed Limiters: The governor is the key speed limiter on a gas cart. People wanting to increase gas golf cart top speed often change or remove the governor. This is risky and can hurt the engine.
Both types are made for low speeds. But how they are limited is different. Electric carts use a controller. Gas carts use a governor.
Reaching the Maximum Speed Golf Cart Can Go
While the factory speed is 12-15 mph, that’s not the absolute limit of what a golf cart frame or drivetrain could handle, at least not for a short time. The maximum speed a golf cart can go depends a lot on changes made to it.
* Standard Carts: A normal, unchanged golf cart usually won’t go much faster than 15 mph on flat ground. The factory settings stop it.
* Lightly Changed Carts: If you make small changes, like adjusting a governor or changing a controller setting slightly, you might get speeds closer to 20 mph.
* Street Legal Carts: Carts made to drive on roads often go up to 25 mph. These are built with safety features for higher speeds. More on this later.
* Heavily Modified Carts: Some people change golf carts a lot. They put in bigger motors, better controllers, different gears, and stronger parts. These carts are not like normal golf carts anymore. They can reach speeds of 30 mph, 40 mph, or even more in extreme cases. But these are special carts, not used on golf courses or in neighborhoods. They are often used for racing or just for fun off-road.
So, the term “Maximum speed golf cart” can mean different things. It could be the factory limit (15 mph). It could be the legal road limit (25 mph). Or it could be the highest speed a cart can go after big changes (30+ mph). The top speed of golf carts is not just one number. It changes based on the cart’s build and setup.
Street Legal Golf Cart Speed Limit
Can you drive a golf cart on normal roads? Sometimes, yes. But it depends on local laws and the cart itself. Golf carts made to drive on roads are often called Low-Speed Vehicles (LSVs).
What Makes a Cart Street Legal?
It takes more than just going a certain speed. To be street legal, a golf cart usually needs:
* Headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals
* Seat belts for everyone
* A horn
* A windshield
* A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
* Side mirrors and a rearview mirror
* Sometimes other safety items
The Street Legal Speed Limit
Street legal golf carts have a specific speed range they must meet.
* Minimum Speed: They must be able to go at least 20 mph.
* Maximum Speed: They cannot go faster than 25 mph.
This 20-25 mph speed limit is set by the US government for LSVs. States and cities can have their own rules too. This speed is picked because it’s faster than a normal golf cart but still slow enough to be relatively safe on slower public roads.
So, if a sign says golf carts can be on the road, they are often expecting street legal carts that can go up to 25 mph. Regular golf carts (the 12-15 mph kind) are usually not allowed on roads unless the road is private or signed for slower vehicles like golf carts specifically. The street legal golf cart speed limit is a key thing to know if you plan to drive one off the golf course.
Factors Affecting Golf Cart Speed
The speed a golf cart goes is not just set by the factory or the type of engine. Many things can make a cart go faster or slower. Knowing these factors affecting golf cart speed can help you understand why your cart might feel slow sometimes.
Power Source Condition
- Electric Carts: How charged are the batteries? A full battery pack gives the most power. As batteries run down, the cart often goes slower. Old or bad batteries also reduce speed and power.
- Gas Carts: How much gas is in the tank? Is the engine tuned up? A well-running engine with enough fuel works best. Dirty fuel filters or a bad spark plug can slow it down.
Weight Carried
- Golf carts are not made to carry very heavy loads. More weight means the motor or engine has to work harder.
- Carrying extra passengers or heavy gear will slow the cart down, especially on hills.
Tire Condition and Pressure
- Tire Size: Different size tires can change speed. Bigger tires mean the wheel turns less for the same distance. This can make the cart go faster, but it also makes the motor/engine work harder to start and climb hills.
- Tire Pressure: Tires without enough air are flat and soft. This creates more friction with the ground. Low pressure makes the cart work harder and go slower. Proper pressure helps the cart roll easily.
Terrain and Hills
- Driving uphill makes the cart go much slower. The motor or engine has to use a lot of power to push the cart up the slope.
- Driving downhill can make the cart go faster due to gravity, but it’s important to use brakes safely.
- Rough ground, sand, or mud also slow the cart down compared to a smooth, flat path.
Cart Age and Maintenance
- An older cart that hasn’t been taken care of will likely be slower than a new or well-maintained one.
- Parts wear out. Motors get weaker, batteries hold less charge, engines lose power, and parts can drag. Regular check-ups and fixing problems keep a cart running its best speed.
Mechanical Issues
- Brakes dragging: If brakes are partly on or not adjusted right, they can slow the cart down without you knowing.
- Bad bearings: Wheels or other moving parts need to spin smoothly. If bearings are bad, they create drag and slow the cart.
- Issues with the motor, controller, engine, or governor: Any problem with the main power parts or their limiters will affect speed.
Wind
- Driving into a strong wind acts like driving uphill. It creates resistance and slows the cart down.
All these things work together. A fully charged electric cart with just one light person on flat ground and new tires will likely go its fastest speed. An old gas cart with low gas, four heavy people, soft tires, going uphill into the wind will go much slower than its usual speed.
How to Increase Golf Cart Speed (With Caution)
Many golf cart owners want to make their cart go faster than the factory setting. There are ways to increase golf cart speed, but it’s important to know the risks and legal issues. Making a cart go faster puts more stress on its parts and makes it less safe.
Simple Checks First
Before changing parts, check the easy things:
* Tire Pressure: Make sure tires are filled to the right pressure. Low tires slow you down.
* Maintenance: Is the cart running well? For gas, change oil, filter, spark plug. For electric, clean battery terminals and check water levels (if needed). A well-running cart goes its normal speed.
Ways to Increase Speed (Gas Carts)
- Adjust or Remove Governor: This is the most common way. The governor cable limits how much the engine can rev.
- Adjusting: You can sometimes tighten or loosen a spring to let the engine run a little faster. This might add a few mph.
- Removing: Taking the governor off completely lets the engine rev as high as it can. This can make the cart go much faster (20-30+ mph). But the engine is not made to run this fast all the time. It can cause serious engine damage, shorten its life a lot, and make the cart unsafe to stop.
- Change Engine Parts: Upgrading air intake, exhaust, or changing engine parts can add power and speed.
- Change Gears: Changing the gears in the rear axle can make the wheels spin faster for the same engine speed. This adds top speed but reduces power for hills or starting.
Ways to Increase Speed (Electric Carts)
- Golf Cart Speed Controller Upgrade: This is a popular way to change electric cart speed. The controller tells the motor what to do.
- Reprogramming: Some modern controllers can be reprogrammed with a handheld device to allow higher speeds. This is often done by dealers or experts.
- Upgrading the Controller: Putting in a bigger, more powerful controller allows more electricity to flow to the motor. This can make the cart faster and stronger. You need a controller that matches your motor and battery voltage.
- Upgrade the Motor: A higher-speed motor is made to spin faster. Putting in a new motor designed for speed can greatly increase the top speed.
- Change Gears: Like gas carts, changing the gears in the rear axle can increase top speed at the cost of low-end power.
- Upgrade Batteries: While not a direct speed increase on its own, putting in higher voltage batteries (like going from 36V to 48V or 72V) or higher quality batteries that can handle more power output is often needed when upgrading the controller or motor. The old batteries might not be able to provide the power the new parts need.
- Add More Voltage (Carefully): For some carts, adding a couple of extra batteries (e.g., turning a 36V into a 42V or 48V system) can increase speed. This must be done with great care and often requires changing the controller and possibly the motor, as the old parts might burn out from the extra voltage.
Important Warnings About Increasing Speed
- Safety: Golf carts are not built like cars. They have simple brakes, basic suspension, and a high center of gravity. Going faster than they were designed for makes them much more likely to tip over, harder to stop, and more dangerous.
- Wear and Tear: More speed and power put extra stress on the motor, engine, transmission, brakes, steering, and frame. Parts will wear out faster and break sooner.
- Cost: Speed upgrades can be expensive. Controllers, motors, and batteries cost a lot.
- Legality: Driving a modified, faster golf cart on roads or even in some neighborhoods might be against the law. Street legal carts have to meet certain build and speed rules.
- Warranty: Making changes to increase speed will almost always void the manufacturer’s warranty.
If you want to increase speed, do research. Talk to experts. Understand the risks. For most people using a golf cart as it was meant to be used, the factory speed is the safest and most reliable option.
Interpreting the Speed of Golf Carts on Different Models
Not all golf carts are exactly the same, even within the 12-15 mph range. The speed can feel different based on the brand and model.
* Club Car, EZ-GO, Yamaha: These are major makers. Their standard carts usually fall into the 12-15 mph range. They might have slightly different ways of limiting speed.
* Different Models: Utility carts made for work might have more power but a lower top speed, built for pulling or carrying heavy loads slowly. Personal carts might prioritize a smoother ride at the standard speed.
* Newer vs. Older: Newer carts, especially electric ones with advanced controllers, might have smoother speed control and might reach their top speed a bit faster than older models.
The basic top speed of golf carts from major makers is quite similar because they are designed for similar uses and need to meet safety ideas.
Comprehending Safety and Speed Limits
Why do golf cart makers limit the speed? It comes down to safety. Golf carts are light, small, and have basic safety features compared to cars.
* Braking: Golf cart brakes are designed to stop the cart from 15 mph, not 30 mph. Stopping distance is much longer at higher speeds.
* Stability: Golf carts are often narrow and have a high center of gravity, especially lifted ones. Turning quickly at high speeds can easily cause them to tip over.
* Collision Safety: They offer little protection in a crash. Hitting something or someone at higher speeds is very dangerous.
* Driver Skill: Golf carts are easy to drive, but driving safely at speed requires more skill, faster reactions, and knowledge of how the cart handles.
The standard speed limits protect the people in the cart, people around the cart (walkers, other carts, cars), and the cart itself. Removing or bypassing speed limiters means you are taking on significant safety risks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Golf Cart Speed
How fast does a 48V golf cart go?
A standard 48V electric golf cart from the factory typically goes about 12 to 15 mph. The voltage (48V) gives it power, but the controller setting is what limits the top speed. A modified 48V cart can go much faster depending on upgrades.
Is 20 mph fast for a golf cart?
Yes, 20 mph is faster than the standard factory speed (12-15 mph). It’s the minimum speed for a street legal LSV. It feels quite fast in a golf cart and requires more attention and quicker reactions, especially in tight spots or around turns.
Can I legally drive a golf cart on the road?
It depends on the local laws (state, city, neighborhood) and the type of cart. Many places allow “street legal” LSVs (20-25 mph with safety gear) on roads with speed limits usually 35 mph or lower. Regular golf carts (12-15 mph) are usually not allowed on public roads unless specific local rules permit it. Always check your local laws.
How much does it cost to make a golf cart faster?
Cost varies a lot based on how much faster you want to go and if it’s gas or electric.
* Adjusting a gas governor might be cheap (a few dollars for a spring or zip tie).
* An electric speed controller upgrade can cost from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand, plus installation.
* New motors, gears, and batteries can cost several hundred to several thousand dollars.
* Making a cart significantly faster is not cheap and also adds ongoing costs from increased wear.
Will bigger tires make my golf cart faster?
Yes, bigger tires can make a golf cart go faster because the wheel covers more ground with each turn. However, this also reduces the power (torque) needed to start moving or climb hills. It also puts more stress on the motor/engine and drivetrain. The speed increase isn’t huge unless the tires are much bigger.
What’s the fastest street legal golf cart?
Street legal golf carts (LSVs) are limited by federal law to a maximum speed of 25 mph. So, the fastest street legal speed is 25 mph. Carts designed to go faster than that are not considered LSVs and would need to meet car safety standards, which a golf cart frame cannot do.
Conclusion
The simple answer to “How fast will a golf cart go?” is usually between 12 and 15 mph. This is the average speed set by makers for safety and typical use on golf courses or in planned communities. Gas carts use governors to limit speed, while electric carts use controllers.
The maximum speed a golf cart can reach depends heavily on whether it has been changed. Street legal carts can go up to 25 mph. Heavily modified carts can go even faster, but this comes with big safety risks, increased wear on the cart, and potential legal problems.
Many factors can affect a golf cart’s actual speed on any given day, like weight, terrain, tire pressure, and how well it is maintained. Wanting to increase golf cart speed is common, but upgrading parts like the golf cart speed controller upgrade (for electric) or adjusting the governor (for gas) should be done with caution and understanding of the downsides.
For most uses, the standard 12-15 mph is the safest and most reliable speed for a golf cart. It allows easy movement while keeping everyone safe.