Golf Cart Charging Time

How Long Does it Take to Charge a 36 Volt Golf Cart?

If you’re the new owner of a 36 volt golf cart, you may be wondering:

How long does it take to charge a 36 volt golf cart?

It typically takes 3-7 hours to charge a 36 volt golf cart, but that charging time varies based on several factors.

The rest of this write-up will help you understand why there can be such a broad range for the charging time.

By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be an expert on all things charging.

How Long Does it Take to Charge a 36 Volt Golf Cart?

Why does the charge time vary?

There are several factors that contribute to the charge time for your golf cart battery pack.

Here’s the quick scoop to get you up to speed:

Factor #1 – Battery Age and Quality

A new battery will charge faster than an old battery.

If your batteries are relatively new, you can expect them to charge faster than a series of lead acid batteries that have been used for several years.

It’s also worth noting that not all batteries are built the same.

If you could choose from Energizer, Duracell and a generic brand, which option would you pick?

One of the name brands, of course!

Cheaper batteries are a gamble and they are highly unlikely to outperform or outlast the name brands.

The same is true for golf cart batteries.

Trojan Battery has one of the best reputations amongst golf cart owners, but there are no shortage of cheaper options.

Read up on the best golf cart batteries if you’re in the market for a replacement.

Factor #2 – Battery Discharge Level

If your 6 volt battery series is really low, it will take longer to charge than a golf cart that’s just been cruising around the golf course for 30 minutes.

Some websites use the term “depth of discharge” to describe how much battery life remains.

So back to our original question…

“How long does it take to charge a 36 volt golf cart?”

It will take 3 to 7 hours to charge your 36v golf cart, depending on the depth of discharge.

If your golf car has plenty of battery charge left, it might only need 3 hours on the battery charger. If it’s a completely dead battery, it may need as much as 8-14 hours.

Whenever possible, you should avoid letting your battery go dead. Not only will it take way longer to recharge, but a dead battery will actually lose some of its battery capacity whenever its run down to 0%.

I recommend reading how often should I charge my golf cart batteries to learn more about maximizing the life of your batteries.

Factor #3 – The Golf Cart Battery Charger

If you have an old electric golf cart with the original charger, it may be time to upgrade.

I once owned an old Club Car DS that would take forever to charge, even when I replaced the batteries. As a newbie in the golf cart owners community, I had no clue that my 30 year old charger needed to be replaced.

Lesson learned.

There are lots of chargers to choose from and you’ll see terms like trickle charger, automatic charger, etc.

Here’s the key. Make sure you buy a golf cart charger that matches the golf cart voltage.

In other words, if you have a 36 volt golf cart, you need a 36v charger. If you have a 48 volt golf cart, you need a 48v charger.

There are newer high speed chargers on the market that can reduce the time needed to charge your batteries.

Replacement Charger Options

  • Fits 1996-2009 EZGO Models: TXT, TXTE, TXT PDS, Freedom TXT, Shuttle with "D" style plug

  • Fits 36V carts with "crowfoot" style plug & Pre 1983 EZGO carts. This also fits 36V carts from any year from the following manufacturers: Cushman, Melex, Legend, Noland, Nordskog, Karrior, Westinghouse, Pargo,Taylor-Dunn, Hyundai.

  • Fits Club Car 48v golf xarts with 3-Pin Round Plug charger connections. Please note: 1995-2010 48V Club Car DS and 2004-2014 48V Club Car Precedent will require OBC Bypass modification.

Fits 1996-2009 EZGO Models: TXT, TXTE, TXT PDS, Freedom TXT, Shuttle with "D" style plug

Fits 48v EZGO TXT and RXV models with 3-Pin Handle Plug

Fits 36V carts with "crowfoot" style plug & Pre 1983 EZGO carts. This also fits 36V carts from any year from the following manufacturers: Cushman, Melex, Legend, Noland, Nordskog, Karrior, Westinghouse, Pargo,Taylor-Dunn, Hyundai.

Fits Club Car 48v golf xarts with 3-Pin Round Plug charger connections. Please note: 1995-2010 48V Club Car DS and 2004-2014 48V Club Car Precedent will require OBC Bypass modification.

Fits EZGO Marathon 36v golf carts with Anderson SB-50 Style Plug

Factor #4 – The Temperature

Cold conditions will slow down the battery charging process.

When you’re trying to guess how long it will take to charge your golf cart, be sure to include the temperature in your calculations.

Understanding Lithium Battery Charge Times

If your 36v golf car has a lithium battery, you can expect it to charge must faster.

One of the major advantages of a lithium ion battery is charge time. This battery type can reach about 80% capacity in an hour. A full charge takes about 3 hours.

This is a much faster charging time than a traditional deep cycle battery.

Why doesn’t everyone use lithium golf cart batteries?

Lithium batteries are more expensive, so the steeper price tag is a turn off for many buyers.

If you’re on the fence for which battery type to purchase, you should check out my write-up on lithium vs lead acid batteries.

2 Comments

  1. Hello quick question I have put new batteries in my ergo 36volt also have bought new 36volt 5amp charger light 1 comes on to show I have power light 2 comes showing it is charging it’s bin on for 12 hours and gauge only shows red light and first bar flashing back and forth green light on charger has not come on

    1. Hey Phil – any updates? Can you tell me the brand name of your charger and maybe include a photo of what you’re seeing?

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