Evolution of Golf Carts and NEVs: Convenience, Innovation, Empowerment

Having grown up in a Midwest city, the only golf carts were those you saw on the golf course. The golf car of yesterday has certainly come a long way since then! What once started as 3-wheelers in the fifties only driving on golf courses has progressed to include upgrades and accessories that rival the most advanced electric cars on the road today. That’s why you’ll now find Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEV) on the streets of many cities and the vehicle of choice in many retirement communities. What’s driving this evolution? Complete Communities Empower Golf Cars Complete communities where road speeds are controlled have been around for years, but the development of low-speed vehicles made them safer and more convenient. As communities grew, the need for personal transportation grew. One of the latest forces was the pandemic. Working from home and remote technologies reduced the need to drive long distances. In fact, in a recent survey, nearly half of respondents reported using their NEV every day, but only traveling 2-5 miles per day. [1] This need for a low-mileage vehicle gave rise to eBikes, scooters, and even skateboards. These have a place in society, but aren’t particularly useful for older folks and those who are disabled. They also have limited or no cargo capability. How do you get your groceries home? However, no matter which form of transportation is used, it has to be plugged in. Whether you’re talking about golf cars, eBikes, NEVs, or scooters, owners need to remember to plug in or rely on the person who last drove the vehicle to do so. They need to be careful to not trip on cables on the ground or worry about which connector their cable has. Convenience Drives Innovation Many innovations are driven by convenience. With golf cars, more than 80% of owners charge their vehicle in their garage or carport. And more than 60% want a way to charge wirelessly (just behind the percentage of owners who wish they could go farther on a charge). This survey also showed that once the availability of wireless charging was confirmed, the vast majority (95%) of people surveyed – both owners and intenders – said they are interested. But back to convenience. When asked why they want wireless charging, more than three quarters of those surveyed said it’s because of convenience and safety. “I have a bad back, so I try to avoid bending over to mess with plugs,” reported one individual. Another said, “It’s simple to use. I don’t need to remember to plug in the vehicles, just park above it.” Low-speed vehicle, sedan, SUV, or van. Couldn’t agree more. [1] https://7144078.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7144078/white-papers/Neighborhood-Electric-Vehicle_white-paper.pdf