Understanding the Differences between Golf and Commercial Cart Vehicles
In the same way that the brand name Kleenex is often used to refer to any type of tissue paper, the generic term “golf cart” is routinely used in common parlance to describe a very wide range of service carts beyond its strict definition. Though the term is used loosely to describe any four-wheel, canopied, open-body cart, golf carts are technically only one fraction of a much wider range of cart vehicles. Across this category of vehicles, carts are used to haul personnel and goods around golf courses, material handling warehouses, manufacturing plants, construction sites, and many more large-scale campuses. Understandably, this over-simplified naming habit leads many buyers to believe that all golf carts are similar in their capabilities and construction – a misbelief that is as untrue as it is risky. In actuality, there are two distinct design categories of cart vehicles available on the market – recreational golf carts and commercial utility carts – each serving unique purposes and applications.
- Recreational Golf Carts – these light-duty carts are designed for recreational activities while being operated by the untrained general public, favoring comfort and entertainment.
- Commercial Utility Carts – these heavy-duty carts are specifically designed for demanding industrial-grade applications while being operated by trained professionals, favoring functionality and performance.
In heavy construction and facility maintenance, utility carts are certainly preferred for their robust construction. In golf-course player transportation, golf carts are similarly preferred as that is their intended purpose. For the countless applications that fall in between these two extremes, deciding which style to choose is not so obvious until buyers go through the process of configuring a specific model to meet their objectives. This fact brings us to a simple rule: buyers must always gather their application requirements and compare them to the manufacturer’s specifications in order to gauge any potential cart’s technical suitability to the job at hand. Without performing this technical assessment, buyers will have no way to ensure that the cart they are considering will perform safely as expected.
Comparing Recreational Golf Carts and Commercial Utility Cart Vehicles
At this point, readers may be asking themselves “since all carts seem to look the same, what could be so different that would warrant such an in-depth technical review?” To highlight the core design differences between golf cart and utility cart designs, let’s next compare the features of two representative models pulled right from our current shop inventory of utility vehicles:
| Design Feature | Golf Carts | Commercial Carts |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Function | Recreational Transportation | Industrial, Technical Service |
| Seating | 2-Seater | 2-Seater or 4-Seater |
| Powertrain | Electric Motor w/ Lithium Ion Battery | Electric Motor w/ Lithium Ion Battery or Electronic Fuel Injection Gas Engine |
| Power | 4 – 5 Horsepower | 13 – 15 Horsepower |
| Drivetrain | 2-Wheel Drive | 4-Wheel Drive |
| Transmission | 2-Speed | Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) |
| Max Speed | 15 MPH | 18 MPH |
| Steering | Helical Rack & Pinion | Hydraulic Power Steering |
| Suspension | Comfort Rated w/ Leaf Springs | Load Rated w/ Hydraulic Shocks |
| Ground Clearance | 4″ – 5″ | 7″ – 12″ |
| Weight | 750 – 1,000 lbs | 900 – 1,200 lbs |
| Load Capacity | 500 lbs | 1,200 lbs |
| Towing Capacity | N/A | 1,500 lbs |
| Frame | Aluminum | Welded Steel |
| Brakes | Rear Mechanical Drum | 4-Wheel Hydraulic Disc |
| Body | Molded Plastic | Metal Reinforced Molded Plastic |
| Tires | 14″ Multi-Surface | 20″ All-Terrain |
| Safety | Seat Belts, Lighting Kits | Reinforced Cage, DOT Windshield, Traction Control |
| Other Features | Comfort and Sport-Oriented Accessories | Roof Rack, Rated Tie-Downs, Weather Enclosure, 3rd Party Certification |
| Warranty | Limited | Comprehensive |
Solving for the Elephant in the Room – Cost
While we can clearly see from the above table that commercial utility carts are the more robust and capable option, our comparison isn’t complete without discussing cost. It is true that despite all the advantages that utility carts provide, many buyers still choose standard golf carts for their applications due to their lower cost. This is not inherently a bad decision unless it’s made in haste without understanding the tradeoffs – it all comes down to the buyer being sufficiently informed so that they can intelligently balance costs versus capabilities.
Referring to the two styles of carts compared above, the golf cart model costs around $8,000 MSRP while the commercial utility cart costs around $20,000 MSRP. Depending on selected features and accessories, both price points can vary +/- 25%, which brings the minimum potential price difference between styles to within about $5,000, best case. This price premium for a commercial model can be difficult to justify at face value, which is why buyers are encouraged to thoroughly compare their options in terms of the following technical criteria. Using these quantifiable benefits, buyers can objectively conclude which price point is best for their specific use case.
- Reliability – recreational carts are designed for duty cycles that last about six hours (just longer than a standard round of golf) and under light load weights. In any other conditions, golf carts cannot ensure reliability, leaving only utility carts with their higher horsepower, larger fuel tanks, and all-weather durability to reliably handle industrial jobs.
- Uptime – further to the above point, standard golf carts need frequent recharging, typically once or twice per eight-hour shift. Utility carts (either high-capacity lithium-ion battery powered or combustion engine powered) can typically run for one to three days before refueling, making them much more productive in terms of total uptime.
- Resilience – simply put, golf carts are light duty, and commercial carts are heavy duty. Most golf cart models are designed to withstand light wear-and-tear; mild offroad use on even, trimmed grass and gravel; and minimal load weights. Exceeding any of these conditions risks damaging the cart, quickly depleting its battery, over-taxing its brakes, and potentially damaging its frame. Utility carts are built for much more aggressive use and with stronger materials, which is perhaps the greatest contributor (and justification) for their higher costs.
- Rider Experience – both golf and utility carts offer a surplus of optional accessories, each targeted at their intended user type. Golf carts focus on boosting riders’ leisure experience with options such as onboard coolers, multimedia screens, and premium seats. Utility carts focus on professional experience with options like heated seats, backup cameras, and task lighting.
- On-Street Use – most cart manufacturers offer an LSV (Low Speed Vehicle) option for both their golf and utility carts, which denotes that the cart is legal to operate on public roadways. LSV carts are equipped with special features such as lighting kits and safety devices to make them street-legal, which is a necessary cost-add should a buyer’s application require on-street use.
- Total Cost of Ownership – as with any vehicle, buyers should consider a cart’s total cost of ownership at the time of initial purchase inclusive of maintenance costs and resale costs. Regarding maintenance, utility carts may have higher per-service maintenance costs driven by their higher grade of components but will usually need less frequent maintenance overall since they are more resilient. Conversely, golf carts may be less expensive to maintain, but only when used in their intended light-duty fashion. Regarding resale values, utility carts retain their resale value much better than golf carts, given their greater versatility and resilience.
We hope that this discussion has been helpful for your commercial material handling needs. Fairchild Equipment is the Upper Midwest’s premier Material Handling Equipment and Service resource, with headquarters in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and numerous locations ready 24/7 to serve your needs in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Northern Illinois and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. For more information or to discuss which vehicle solution might be best for you, please send us a message, or contact us at (844) 432-4724.
