Golf Batteries

When shopping for a battery for your electric golf trolley, you may have noticed two types of golf batteries, an AGM battery and a Gel Cell battery. So what is the difference?

AGM stands for ‘Absorbed Glass Mat’ and is designed as a general-purpose battery. But, the AGM batteries used for electric golf trolleys have thicker plates and are capable of deep cycle use. AGM's do not have any liquid to spill. The plates in AGM's are tightly packed and rigidly mounted, and will withstand shock and vibration better than any standard battery.

Gel Cell batteries contain acid that has been "gelled" by the addition of Silica Gel, turning the acid into a solid mass. The advantage of this type of battery is that it is impossible to spill acid even if they are broken. However, there are disadvantages to using a gel battery: they must be charged at a slower rate to prevent excess gas from damaging the cells.
Another disadvantage of gel batteries is that they must be charged at a lower voltage than AGM batteries. In hot climates, water loss can be enough to cause premature battery death. It is for this and other reasons that the AGM golf batteries are more frequently used for golf trolleys or golf carts.

An electric golf trolley or a golf cart requires ‘deep cycle golf batteries’. The term ‘deep cycle, means a battery that is designed to store a lot of energy, which can be drained and then recharged over and over again. The lifespan of a deep cycle battery will vary considerably depending on how it is used, how it is maintained and charged, temperature it is stored at, and other factors. The typical lifespan expectation of an AGM deep cycle battery is 4-7 years and for a gel battery it is 2-5 years.

Avoid what is known as short charging, or placing your golf trolley battery on the charger for a short period of time, as it shortens the life of the batteries.