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golf cart on the street

In recent years a surprising vehicle trend has quietly gained momentum across the US. Believe it or not, electric golf carts are becoming a popular choice as “second cars” for many American families.

These compact, efficient, and versatile vehicles are increasingly being seen far beyond the confines of the country clubs, zipping around neighborhoods and making regular appearances in local commutes. So what’s behind this surge in popularity?

Firstly, we need to recognize the huge strides made in electric vehicle (EV) technology over the past decade. Unlike economics, EV advancements in electric cars actually do trickle down.

Electric golf carts have reaped the benefits of this technological revolution, becoming far more than just golf course cruisers. Today’s models boast improved battery life from compact lithium-ion batteries, increased power with higher quality brushless electric motors, and a surprising array of creature comfort options. Want a lifted electric golf cart with a sound system? That’s no longer a custom job – you can buy fancy carts right out of the dealer catalog.

Modern electric golf carts now offer smooth and silent rides with ranges sufficient to cover daily short commutes comfortably. There’s no gasoline engine to require regular maintenance. There’s no little red gas can to keep around the garage. And there’s not even the old problem of the cart dying in the middle of the street because the old-school lead acid batteries went kaput. Today’s electric golf carts are a significant step up with quality lithium batteries and high-power motors.

That convenience, combined with the increasing popularity of ordinances that scores of towns have passed to make golf carts legal on smaller public roads, has helped many families replace the need for a second car.

I recently visited Babcock Ranch in Florida, a planned town where a large number of the homes are actually built with golf cart parking. Check out the home below, which features a second smaller garage designed for a golf cart. Planners already knew that residents would likely be getting around by cart and built the homes accordingly. The town square has nearly as many golf carts buzzing around as cars, and the local supermarkets and restaurants have parking lots full of carts.

It’s just one example showing that it may be difficult to entirely wrestle cars away from Americans, but what were once two-car families are often turning into one-car and one-golf-cart families and saving money along the way.

And the prize for most American house goes to this one with a majority garage facade

There are several shining examples of cities that have jumped in with both feet to legalize golf carts as everyday vehicles, making them more convenient as car replacers.

Peachtree City in Georgia is perhaps one of the most famous, with its tens of thousands of golf carts that roam the street. The city even removed the golf clubs from its city logo after deciding that it was “more of a golf cart city than a golf city.”

The city allows golf carts to be operated on many of its public roads but also has smaller multi-use paths designed for these small vehicles as well as for bikes and scooters, providing shorter routes and avoiding traffic from larger vehicles.

Many residents still own a typical car for longer trips but opt to use their golf carts as much as possible in town.

golf cart in Peachtree City, Georgia

Ethan Luster, the owner of a golf cart dealer in Clearwater, Florida, explained that many of his customers are people moving down to Florida. In these communities, such small and convenient little vehicles are seen as a standard, normalized form of transportation around town.

For newcomers to the area, these convenient vehicles are often one of their first purchases, Luster explained:

Some of our out-of-state customers, they haven’t even been to their new house yet and they’ve purchased a golf cart on their way over.

golf cart

The affordability of electric golf carts is another crucial factor driving their popularity as second cars. With prices significantly lower than the average car, and operating costs that are just a fraction of those for cars (whether gas-powered or electric), electric carts present an economically appealing alternative.

The reduced maintenance needs, coupled with incredibly low “fuel” costs, make them a sensible choice for budget-conscious consumers. A typical re-charge can cost as little as one dollar, and takes place in owners’ garages instead of needing to stop at a gas station for a fill-up.

While often not the main motivation for many people opting for an electric golf cart instead of a second car, the environmental factor plays a role in their rising popularity. As awareness about climate change and the environmental impact of fossil fuels grows, many Americans are consciously seeking out greener alternatives. Electric golf carts align perfectly with this mindset, producing zero tailpipe emissions and having a far smaller environmental footprint than conventional cars. Even issues like tire wear releasing cancer-causing particles into the environment are further reduced by using smaller and lighter vehicles like golf carts.

golf cart

But it’s not just about saving money or the planet. The practicality of electric golf carts in certain contexts is unbeatable. For short trips within the community – such as to the local grocery store, the community center, or a friend’s house – they are incredibly convenient. They’re compact, making them easy to park, and their 20-25 mph speed is adequate for residential areas.

Many communities across the US, particularly in retirement areas like Florida and Arizona, are already golf cart-friendly, with dedicated lanes and parking spaces. But it’s not just the retirees who are enjoying these fun little vehicles. Many families are finding that golf carts are a fun and efficient way to handle school drop-offs, visit local parks, or simply enjoy a leisurely drive around the neighborhood.

Legal regulations have also evolved to accommodate this trend. Many states now have laws allowing golf carts to be driven on public roads with speed limits of up to 35 mph, provided they meet certain safety requirements. Manufacturers have also modified many of their models into LSVs, or Low Speed Vehicles. The LSV category is a federally approved category of motor vehicles that allows 25 mph vehicles that meet certain safety regulations to operate on roads with speeds limits of up to 35 mph. Golf carts that meet these regulations don’t require any special local ordinance to be legally operated on roads – they’re already covered by federal guidelines that are adopted by nearly all states. This regulatory support further boosts the viability of golf carts as second cars.

A golf cart “sharrow” painted on a Florida road indicating that cars should share the road

Safety might be a concern for some, given that golf carts do not offer the same protection as cars in the event of an accident. However, when used appropriately – that is, primarily for short, slow-speed trips within communities, and not on high-speed roads – the risk is substantially mitigated.

Many golf cart manufacturers are also adding safety features like seat belts, mirrors, and efficient braking systems to their models, all of which are requirements for LSVs. And as many communities create multi-use paths that are accessible to golf carts, these smaller vehicles can be further protected from dangerous full-size cars.

The rise of electric golf carts as “second cars” in the United States represents a fascinating convergence of technological advancement, environmental consciousness, economic sensibility, and practical convenience. As the trend continues to grow, it promises not just a transformation of our local commutes, but also a greener and more sustainable future for all. These humble carts, it seems, have driven far beyond the golf course and straight into the hearts of American families.

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The Land Rover Defender EV we’ve been waiting for is coming, but not soon enough

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4 hours ago

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January 22, 2025

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The Land Rover Defender EV we've been waiting for is coming, but not soon enough

Jaguar Land Rover confirmed that an electric Defender is in the works. However, as the EV model requires “a significant step in the evolution of the Defender,” it may take some time before we see it hit the roads.

When will Land Rover Defender launch an EV?

As part of its rebranding, Range Rover, Defender, Discovery, and Jaguar each became a distinct brand under Jaguar Land Rover in 2023.

JLR announced plans in 2021 to launch six electric vehicles across the lineup by 2026. The plans called for Jaguar to become an all-electric brand, while Range Rover, Defender, and Discover would each release at least one EV by the end of the decade.

Last February, CEO Adrian Mardell admitted, “We are a little bit slower than we said three years ago.” Mardell said the company was now aiming to launch four new EVs.

JLR’s boss said the company was taking its time “to make sure that we put the best vehicles we have ever developed” out for buyers.

The Land Rover Defender EV appears to be one of the models that will be delayed. JLR’s chief commercial officer, Lennard Hoornik, confirmed to Autocar that the electric Defender SUV is proving more difficult than expected.

Land-Rover-Defender-EV
Land Rover Defender 110 (Source: JLR)

JLR electric vehicles are coming soon

“Electrifying the current ‘L663’ car, on its D7x platform, is not what we want,” He explained. Although the (L663) model “is brilliant at what it does” as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), Hoornik said, “it’s not easy to find the extra space you need within that chassis for batteries.”

JLR’s exec confirmed that the company is still committed to launching an electric model under each brand, including Range Rover, Defender, Discover, and Jaguar.

Land-Rover-Defender-EV
(Source: JLR)

However,” finding the space on the current Defender platform is really, really hard, so we will need to use something different,” Hoornik added. “The EV will need to come at quite a significant step in the evolution of the Defender,” he said.

Although Hoornik didn’t confirm it, the comments suggest the electric Land Rover Defender will likely have to wait for JLR’s dedicated EV platform, which is expected to be released closer to the end of the decade.

Range-Rover's-first-EV-testing-back
Range Rover Electric SUV testing (Source: JLR)

In the meantime, Range Rover’s first electric SUV will finally hit showrooms this year. At the end of October, JLR said the Range Rover Electric had over 48,000 clients on the waitlist. Last week, we caught a sneak peek of its mid-size electric SUV, likely the Velar, during testing.

After revealing its new ultra-luxury EV concept last year, Jaguar shook the internet (for better or worse) as it looks to revamp the brand. The radical GT concept will kick off a new lineup of ultra-luxury electric models, which Mardell said will likely be priced around around £150,000, or nearly $200,000.

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Anker SOLIX winter sale takes 56% off power stations, Lectric XPeak 2.0 + XPedition 2.0 e-bikes get $654 in free gear, EGO tools, more

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January 22, 2025

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Anker SOLIX winter sale takes 56% off power stations, Lectric XPeak 2.0 + XPedition 2.0 e-bikes get 4 in free gear, EGO tools, more

Starting off today’s Green Deals is Anker’s SOLIX winter sale that will be running through the rest of the week and taking up to 56% off units, including the bundle on the F2000 Portable Power Station with a backup transfer switch for your circuit breaker at $1,449, among many others. We also have Lectric switching up its New Year savings after the recent flash sale ended, with its newest XPeak 2.0 Off-Road e-bikes and the XPedition 2.0 Cargo e-bikes seeing the biggest free gear packages up to $654 – all starting from $1,399. We also spotted the EGO Power+ 15-inch POWERLOAD Carbon Fiber Split-Shaft String Trimmer dropping to $179, with a roundup of the select discounts on other tools. Lastly, while it is not a “green technology,” Orbit’s Velo Advanced Bike Tracker can certainly be used to always know where your e-bike is – all at a $35 Amazon low. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Rad Power e-bike sale offers, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Anker SOLIX winter sale bundles F2000 LiFePO4 power station with backup transfer switch at $1,449

Anker has launched a SOLIX winter sale through January 26 that is giving folks up to 56% off its lineup of popular power stations, with a particular bundle unavailable elsewhere. You can score the brand’s F2000 Portable Power Station bundled with a transfer switch for your circuit breakers at $1,449 shipped. Down from the bundle’s normal $2,448 price tag, we only saw it fall lower once before during the short-term Cyber Monday sale when it was $50 less, with it otherwise keeping above $1,500. The 41% markdown here is striking $999 off the price tag for the second-lowest price we have tracked, which is all the better considering the discounted power station alone costs $1,099 (matching at Amazon) and the transfer switch would run you $449, saving you nearly $100. You also won’t find this combo outside of Anker, with it being unavailable most days at Amazon.

Whether you’re prepping to handle sudden blackouts over winter or just stocking up for adventures away from home, Anker’s SOLIX F2000 has your back with its 2,048Wh LiFePO4 capacity and 2,400W output power (surging up to 3,600W to tackle higher-power appliances). There are 12 versatile output ports to utilize here, including an exclusive RV port for those traveling by way of a motor home. It can reach an 80% battery recharge in 1.4 hours after being plugged into a standard wall outlet, or you can connect it to its 1,000W maximum solar input to get the same amount of juice in up to 2.5 hours. You’ll also get extra efficiency built right in as the smart AC ports work with its internal systems to switch into a power-saving mode for energy conservation that extends its lifespan and prevents waste.

If you’re grabbing the package with the included transfer switch, you’ll gain the addition of hooking the F2000 up directly to your breaker to cover up to six circuits, each rated for up to 15A single-pole. It even comes pre-wired for easier installation, with Anker assuring that there’s “no need to hire an electrician.”

More Anker SOLIX winter sale F2000 home backup bundles:

Anker SOLIX winter sale F2000 solar generator bundles:

Anker SOLIX winter sale C1000 power station deals:

Anker SOLIX winter sale C800 power station deals:

Anker SOLIX winter sale C200/C300 power bank station deals:

Anker SOLIX winter sale accessory deals:

If you want to view Anker’s full SOLIX winter sale lineup, follow the link to the landing page here.

Lectric XPeak 2.0 off-road e-bikes

Lectric’s latest XPeak 2.0 and XPedition 2.0 e-bikes are getting up to $654 in free gear starting from $1,399

Lectric’s flash sale has ended, and the brand’s New Year sale is switching around prices on its e-bike bundles, with its two newest models holding some of the biggest packages of free gear for the time being. You’ll find the latest releases, the XPeak 2.0 Off-Road e-bikes getting packages we last saw during their November releases, with the standard High-Step and Step-Thru models getting $316 in free gear at $1,399 shipped, while the Long-Range High-Step and Long-Range Step-Thru models come with $365 in free gear at $1,599 shipped. These bundles would normally run you $1,715 and $1,964, respectively, with them only beaten out by the short-term $404 packages we saw recently.

Coming in two colorways, Lectric’s four XPeak 2.0 e-bikes arrive with significant upgrades from the previous model, like the new torque sensor that pairs with the brand’s PWR+ tech for even more responsive PAS, which works alongside the 750W Stealth M24 rear hub-motor (which peaks at 1,310W) to support riders up to a max speed of 28 MPH. The standard models’ 15Ah semi-integrated battery provides a travel range of up to 60 miles on a full charge, while the long-range models’ new 20Ah battery extends that range up to 80 miles.

These e-bikes also come with structural upgrades, including a new hydroformed aluminum frame, a higher-end RST Renegade front suspension fork with blacked-out fork stanchions for a much sleeker and stealthier look, as well as lock-on hand grips, a larger 203 mm front disc for the hydraulic mineral oil brakes – plus, a new color LCD too. Continued features include the 8-speed Shimano Altus derailleur, puncture-resistant knobby tires, hidden cable routing, accessory mounting points, removable pedals, and a thumb-throttle for pure electric riding. With the included bundle packages, you’ll also have the option to add on a rear cargo rack, fenders over both wheels, an Elite 850-lux headlight, an accordion-style folding bike lock, and a suspension seat post for more comfort when heading off the beaten path.

Lectric’s new XPeak 2.0 standard e-bikes with $316 in free gear:

Lectric’s new XPeak 2.0 long-range e-bikes with $365 in free gear:

Lectric’s new XPedition 2.0 13Ah e-bike with $326 in free gear

Lectric’s new XPedition 2.0 26Ah e-bike with $505 in free gear

Lectric’s new XPedition 2.0 35Ah e-bike with $654 in free gear

While the other e-bike packages have mostly shrunk in size, you can still take advantage of the savings that do exist to score some solid add-on accessories for them by heading to the landing page here.

EGO Power+ 15-inch string trimmer

This EGO Power+ 15-inch carbon fiber split-shaft string trimmer replaces broken lines with button press at $179

We just spotted the EGO Power+ 15-inch POWERLOAD Carbon Fiber Split-Shaft String Trimmer with a 2.5Ah battery at Amazon for $179 shipped. Normally this tool would cost you $250 at full price, with discounts often keeping things at $199 or higher. Today’s deal brings you a 28% markdown that saves you $71 off the going rate while it is down among its lowest prices – just $6 above the all-time low from March.

This string trimmer from EGO Power+ comes designed for far easier and more convenient use around the home, equipped with the brand’s POWERLOAD tech that automatically winds your trimmer so that you can simply replace broken strings with the push of a button. It also comes sporting a carbon fiber shaft (that can also be separated to switch out with another attachment) for increased durability while providing a 15-inch cutting swath. What’s more, unlike other models, this one comes compatible with all of the brand’s EGO ARC batteries making it far more easy for folks with varying sizes to utilize all that they have – with the included 2.5Ah battery providing a 30-minute runtime here. Head below for more.

Other notable EGO Power+ deals:

Orbit Velo advanced Apple Find My bike tracker

Orbit’s discreet Velo advanced bike tracker with Apple Find My integration falls to $35 Amazon low

As a bicyclist, one of my biggest fears is losing my ride to theft or my own incompetence, but we just spotted the perfect support for those concerns with the Orbit Velo Advanced Bike Tracker at $34.63 shipped from reputable seller Bike A Mile at Amazon. Normally going for $40 in full, since 2023 it’s been seeing only trickles of savings, with the steepest drop being to the $35 low back in April. Today though, that price is getting beaten out here for a new Amazon low.

Bike security is a growing concern – especially for e-bike riders – but this tracker from Orbit should put your mind at ease thanks to the Apple Find My integration. It comes with specialized bolts and a unique tool thereby ensuring a solid attachment to either the bottle cage mount or below your bottle cage – plus, it has a IPX6 waterproof design so don’t worry about it splashes or even heavy rain you may get caught in. On that note – while it is designed for standard bikes, it can be placed on many e-bike models on the market – just be sure yours has screw points on the appropriate spot. After its secure, you’ll enjoy “up to 3 years of tracking with a replaceable battery.”

Best New Year EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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Elon Musk is ‘not good for America or the world,’ according to himself

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4 hours ago

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January 22, 2025

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Elon Musk is 'not good for America or the world,' according to himself

Elon Musk wrecking ball

Elon Musk is participating in the “dumbest experiment in history” and is “not good for America or the world” – and both of those quotes come from Elon Musk, himself.

(Note: every use of quotation marks in this article is a direct quote from Elon Musk, in the context of climate change and the Paris Agreement)

In Donald Trump’s first day in the Oval Office (after committing treason in 2021, for which there is a clear legal remedy), he once again announced that he wants to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement.

This action would result in a hotter climate, which means more environmental destruction, more displacement of people, more death and higher costs for Americans and everyone else on the planet, likely causing “more displacement and destruction than all the wars in history combined.” (Unless, of course, it is mitigated by Trump’s impotence as so many of his previous attempts at environmental destruction have been)

And, like last time, pulling out will weaken the position of America on the world stage. The move allies the US with such luminary states as Iran, Libya and Yemen, the only three other countries in the world not to ratify the Paris Agreement.

This order was not unexpected, as Mr. Trump did the same “dumb” thing in 2017, which President Biden reversed right away in 2021. Mr. Trump also campaigned in 2024 on a platform of causing environmental destruction, committing to pump the brakes on the environmental and economic progress of President Biden’s policies and forfeiting the boom in American manufacturing they brought.

Mr. Trump justified this withdrawal by using the same “propaganda from the carbon industry” as he has in the past, showing his lack of understanding of the Agreement, of science, and of the economy, as we covered before. And just like last time, the public overwhelmingly opposes withdrawing from the agreement, by about a 2.5x margin.

But what has changed this time is the response from technology company CEOs, who previously correctly stated that pulling out of the Paris Agreement is not good for the world, and now are actively participating in the very destruction they decried in the past.

In 2017, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg both decried pulling out of Paris, saying that it harms our planet and our future, and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos vowed that Amazon would continue to follow Paris goals (which it hasn’t followed through on).

But this time, all three of those spineless husks not only stayed quiet, but also personally donated a million dollars each to the very environmental destruction that they previously claimed to oppose.

Despite the silence of these cowardly billionaires who have fallen in line with destroying the planet’s future (again, their words), international leaders have at least correctly called out Mr. Trump’s actions for their stupidity and feebleness. The UN’s climate secretary, Simon Stiell, said that the door remains open for the US to rejoin just as last time, and pointed out that the world’s energy transition is unstoppable. And the US Climate Alliance, a coalition of states and cities that was formed in 2017 to protect their residents from Trump’s destructive actions, also vowed to continue to work to solve the problem that Trump wants to worsen.

Most likely, the most significant thing the US’ withdrawal from this global effort to solve a global problem will do is to ensure that America is unable to lead that inevitable transition, and will hand that lead to China. Congratulations Mr. Xi, you’re welcome for the global leadership position we’ve granted to you. Signed, the republican party.

And as another business leader pointed out in the past, “the only thing we gain by slowing down the transition is just slowing it down. It doesn’t make it not occur. It just slows it down,” but that “the faster we can bring that date forward, the better.”

That business leader is Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who runs a company whose mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.

Musk has previously called climate change the “dumbest experiment in history.” He acknowledges that it will cause “more displacement and destruction than all the wars in history combined.” He said that carbon is the “turd in the punch bowl” of our atmosphere and “if countries don’t take action, they all will share in a bad future.”

You can read a transcript of his landmark 2015 speech on climate change at the Sorbonne here, or watch the video above.

And, in 2017, when Mr. Trump said he would drop the US out of the Paris Agreement, Musk responded wisely at the time by departing from a council of business leaders that Mr. Trump had assembled. Musk said he did so because “Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world.”

However, deep in the throes of his current social media addiction that resulted in him losing ~$35 billion of his and other people’s money, Musk now seems to have lost any portion of himself that pretended to care about the planet.

Not only has he recently displayed that he doesn’t know even the basics of how climate change works, but he is now actively a part of a decision that he previously said was “not good for America or the world.”

As a thank you for his massive bribes to Mr. Trump’s campaign, Musk has been appointed to the Department of Government Efficiency. This is not an actual department, but an advisory panel with no official authority.

It was created to be helmed by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, two of the supposedly most intelligent and capable republican operatives, who nevertheless have both been tasked to do a job that would normally accomplished by one person (Ramaswamy has since quit or been forced out, before the job even started). The panel has a redundant mission to the already-existing Government Accountability Office – making it a redundant office to reduce redundancy (no, this is not a Monty Python sketch, this is apparently real life).

So, despite being put in a position that is very clearly busywork to make him feel important – and in which he already admitted failure at the goals he set out for himself, weeks before even starting the job – this nevertheless means that Musk is a member of the team that has now signaled yet another withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. (And notably, nobody is talking about how he’s doing at his job running Tesla, which he’s doing badly, and is even lobbying to harm his own company as Tesla’s sales drop in a growing market)

But unlike last time, when he swiftly departed from Mr. Trump’s unofficial business council for doing something that he correctly pointed out as being bad for the world (and bad for his business selling renewable energy), Musk has instead spent the last couple days defending his use of an unambiguous Nazi salute in front of a live TV audience (which Nazis were very happy to see).

The salute was not out of character for Musk, given his history of white supremacist statements and his current support for German neo-Nazis. Musk’s support has been noted by Germans, both among the public and by one German auto CEO who sees it as a sales opportunity, as a Tesla boycott gains momentum in Germany due to Musk’s neo-Nazi advocacy.

He has yet to make a public statement leaving the administration that made this “destructive” decision, instead choosing to remain on and continue advancing the “dumbest experiment in human history” – and being “not good for America or the world,” according to himself.

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