Universal Measure of Battery Capacity
Watt Hours (Wh) are the universal measure of battery capacity. This measure is used to simplify how much capacity your battery has regardless of voltage and amperage. Watt Hours are calculated by multiplying the Voltage * Amperage. For example, a 12V 26Ah battery has 312 Wh of capacity, and a 24V 10Ah battery has 240 Wh of capacity. By looking at Wh you can determine what battery will last longer on the golf course.
Don’t Worry About the Voltage
Don’t let trolley dealers tell you one voltage system is superior to another. This is more marketing hype than fact! Below is information from over 12 years experience selling both systems. There are pros and cons to any system or every manufacturer would develop the same voltage systems. In most cases it comes down to a trolley design decision.
Let’s explore the similarities and differences:
Similarities when using on Trolleys | Differences when using on Trolleys |
Both systems use the same amount of power | 12V lithium slightly heavier for same Wh rating |
Both systems are equally dependable | 24V SLA more complex and heavier |
No evidence of higher failure rates on either system | Difference in wiring but this is a manufacturing issue |
No noticeable differences when using your trolley | 12V more widely used – easier to find parts |
Our current MGI series trolleys feature a 24 Volt power system, however in the past MGI used both 12V and 24V systems. Our Bat-Caddy series trolleys feature 12 Volt power systems. Over the past 12 years working with both systems there has been no evidence that one system is more reliable than the other. You know, 99% of cars and SUVs have 12V electrical systems.
A note on Sealed Lead Acid batteries (SLA): SLA batteries are initially a less expensive alternative to lithium batteries, however, they are heavy. Electric Trolley SLA batteries typically weigh in around 26 pounds—20 pounds heavier than an equivalent lithium battery. As mentioned, they are initially less expensive, but not in the long run. SLA batteries are susceptible to storage and over-charging damage making their life span much less than today’s lithium batteries.