AC vs DC on your golf cart

The differences between different types of electrical currents, charging, and power operations is a complicated subject. When you want to ride a golf cart, you want a vehicle with the ability to get you from point A and point B in the easiest way possible.

Electric cart options are typically broken down into AC and DC models. The main differences between these carts involve the electrical current running through the motor. The operation, performance, and daily use will all have a lot of benefits geared towards the AC motor. You do not need to know a lot of about electricity to learn about the benefits when choosing an AC motor over a DC motor.

Read through to have a basic understanding of how the AC motor operates and the benefits of DC powered motors.

Higher RPM Rates

As you get behind the wheel of a golf cart, you have no need to burst out of the gate, but a good RPM rate will have you moving steadily along a golf course or other piece of property. When comparing DC and AC motors, AC motors have a higher RPM rate. This means the cart can reach faster top speeds.

Even if you are not looking for the fastest golf carts, one with a higher speed range has more benefits. For example, if an AC motor can reach 20 mph and a DC motor can only reach 10 mph, then the AC motor will be doing far less work than the DC motor to reach the 10 mph. At the 10 mph, the AC motor is only at half the rate of full power while the DC motor would already be pushed to the max.

No matter how fast or slow you need to go, the higher the RPM, the better the performance of the motor.

Uphill and Downhill Performance

Whether you're traveling on a golf course or making your way around personal property, you're bound to run into some hills. AC motors have improved performance over DC motors whether you are going uphill or down.

As you travel uphill, the continuous electric current in an AC motor helps you make your way up the hill at a steady rate and with a minimal loss of speed. While driving a golf cart with a DC motor, you may find that the cart struggles to properly travel up hills, and speed rates might be dramatically slower.

While going downhill, the use of an AC motor provides more precision while you drive. You can brake easier, control speed, and properly navigate your way down a hill without any issues. While single hills may not present the biggest problems with either engine, multiple hills will showcase the clear differences between the vehicles