7 Hidden Costs of Owning a Gas Golf Cart (and Why an Electric Golf Cart Saves You 43 %)

Meta description: Discover the invisible expenses that make gas carts 43 % pricier over five years—and why switching to an electric golf cart is the smartest financial move your course can make.

When superintendents compare sticker prices, gas models often look cheaper. Add up fuel, oil, filters, emissions permits and downtime, however, and the average 10-fleet gas lineup quietly bleeds $31 400 over five seasons. Below we expose the seven most overlooked cost centers and show how a modern 48-V lithium electric golf cart erases them.

1. Fuel price volatility
2. Daily oil-level checks & quarterly changes
3. Exhaust system rebuilds every 28 months
4. Smog-compliance fines (CA & EU)
5. Higher insurance premiums (combustion risk)
6. Noise-reduction berms or time-of-day restrictions
7. Lost tee-times during engine service

Cost-savings snapshot
Convert to an electric golf cart fleet and you trade 92 moving parts for 4, eliminate fuel spend, and cut yearly maintenance by 68 %. Download our Excel calculator (no form) and plug in your local gas & electricity rates—the ROI rarely exceeds 22 months.