Every day it seems that city streets around the world become more and more crowded. And every day, the billions of people who call those cities home look for new ways to make it easier to get around. Over the past decade, all kinds of new methods of transportation have started popping up. There are more bicyclists than ever, and even smaller towns are seeing new companies offering electric scooters for rent. It has also become increasingly common to see an assortment of mini or microcars, as well as a variety of electric or gasoline-powered carts.
No matter where you’re located, there is an incredible number of great ways to get around. Once upon a time, golf carts were only used in fancy country clubs to putter around expansive golf courses keeping all the necessary gear in tow. These days, it is not too uncommon to see them on a lazy downtown street in any number of small towns or even making deliveries in crowded urban centers.
However, there are more choices in low-speed vehicles than there have ever been. And traditional golf carts have never been legal to drive on most streets. So, while the small golf cart might be the go-to choice for many neighborhood drivers, in the last few years, the nation’s iconic golf carts have encountered a considerable amount of competition from the likes of an upstart new vehicle, the neighborhood electric vehicle, or NEV for short.
But choosing between a golf cart and a neighborhood electric vehicle can be tricky. Most buyers don’t bother to take some time out to learn about the differences. So, let’s get right to the point and compare the most important aspects of both vehicles.
The Difference Between Golf Carts and Neighborhood Electric Vehicles
At first glance, many neighborhood electric vehicles don’t always appear to be very different than a traditional golf cart. So what, exactly, is the difference between the two? The most significant difference is that the majority of classic golf carts are not “street legal.” Strictly speaking, a golf cart is designed to be used on a golf course. A classic golf cart travels an average speed of only 15mph. They also typically don’t have all of the safety features that most states and cities require for a low-speed vehicle to operate legally on city streets. For example, they don’t usually have head or brake lights, mirrors, turn signals, or safety belts. You don’t typically need these things when traveling at ultra-low speeds on an open golf course.
| Vehicle | Speed |
| Golf Cart | Up to 15 mph |
| LSV | Up to 35 mph |
You might be thinking, “But I see golf carts on the road all the time. Surely this can’t be accurate.” While it is extremely common to see golf carts driving on public streets, what you see on your neighborhood streets is NOT technically a golf cart. Most likely, you see a low-speed vehicle (LSV) that is designed to look like a golf cart.
It makes sense that so many low-speed vehicles resemble classic golf carts. This is because many of the companies who got their start making carts for golf courses found many of their customers were also using them outside the course.
While these LSVs can look like classic golf carts, there are a few key differences. First, in order to legally drive a low-speed vehicle on city streets, certain safety features have to be added. The other key difference is speed. An LSV is capable of traveling considerably faster than a golf cart. LSVs can typically travel up to 35 mph or more if the motor is modified. Classic golf carts typically have a maximum speed of 15 mph. But they can also be modified to drive faster. However, basic golf carts don’t have mirrors or lights, so they aren’t legal (or safe) to drive on public roadways at any speed.
What Is a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle?
Neighborhood electric vehicles are simply a special designation of a low-speed vehicle that is operated entirely on battery-generated electricity. LSVs also come in a range of gasoline or hybrid-powered engines, but those types of LSVs are not considered neighborhood electric vehicles. Likewise, golf carts can also come with both gasoline or fully electric motors. However, to meet the official designation of NEV, electric-powered golf carts must be fully street legal.
One last key difference is where these vehicles can be driven. In many places, neighborhood electric vehicles can legally be driven by licensed drivers on any road with a maximum speed of 35mph or less. A classic golf cart, by comparison, often cannot be driven on any road and, in many places, may not require you to have a driver’s license.
Safety
There are a number of safety concerns when it comes to operating or riding in a golf cart. When driving any golf cart, LSV or NEV, you have an increased risk of becoming severely injured in an accident. This is because of the design of the machines. If any of these types of vehicles collide with a full-sized automobile, the occupants of the smaller vehicle are very likely to be injured. This is particularly true where golf carts are concerned. Since most classic golf carts lack all of the safety features required on other LSVs, the risk of injury is considerably higher. Also, since the vehicles lack mirrors and lights, the risk of getting in an accident is higher. Out of the three types of vehicles, the golf cart is the least safe option when it is driven on public streets.
Current models of neighborhood electric vehicles go above and beyond to reduce the risk to the driver and passengers. While there are many NEVs that still resemble golf carts, you will often see that the “cabins” of newer model NEVs more closely resemble a small car. While NEVs are typically seen as safer than a golf cart, it is still vitally important to follow all traffic rules and regulations when driving one. It is also important to avoid driving them on any road that has a speed limit over 35 mph. Even driving the safest neighborhood electric vehicle, the risk of injury in the case of an accident is still extremely high when the other cars are driving these higher speeds.
To protect the safety of NEV drivers and passengers, many cities and towns allow them to travel in bike lanes, and a few have even added special travel lanes specifically for these micro-cars. This can be found from New York to California and many places in between. There are even some “golf cart communities” in the southern states of Florida and Georgia that have built separate roads or trails specifically for neighborhood electric vehicles.
Cost Comparison
Price is another one of the key differences between a traditional golf cart and a neighborhood electric vehicle. Prices for a conventional golf cart with a 15-mph maximum speed and no extra safety features can start as low as $4,000. The more features you add to the base model, the higher the price climbs. The range for most golf carts is between $4,000 and $10,000.
| Vehicle | Speed | Price |
| Golf Cart | Up to 15 mph | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| LSV (base model) | Up to 35 mph | $6,000 – $7,000 |
Now, let’s compare that to a standard neighborhood electric vehicle. On a bare-bones basic model, you can expect to pay a couple of thousand dollars more. Remember, the NEV has a higher maximum speed and considerably more safety features. Base models tend to start at $6,000-$7,000. From there, the price can reach as high as $20,000 depending on the brand and features.
Cost of maintenance
The price of annual maintenance on a standard golf cart typically runs between $100-$500 per year, depending on the type of engine you choose for the cart. The vast majority of this estimated cost goes into maintaining a gasoline engine if you choose that type of golf cart. In comparison, a NEV tends to cost much less to maintain. GEM claims that both their e6 and eL XD NEV models have projected maintenance costs of $0 for all of the first three years of ownership.
Cost of Repairs
Now that we’ve discussed expected routine maintenance, we should consider the cost of repairs. The most expensive repair typically needed for a NEV tends to be the electric battery supply. Unfortunately, these batteries typically need to be replaced around the three-year mark. The average cost of the battery pack is between $500-$1200. However, many experts expect this price to fall in the coming years. They also expect to see batteries with longer life spans hit the market in the very near future as the technology behind the batteries continues to improve. Surprisingly enough, these repair estimates for the newer style neighborhood electric vehicles are very similar to current average prices for major repairs on both types of golf carts.
Insurance Differences and Liability
All vehicles that are used on public roads are required to have liability insurance. This includes neighborhood electric vehicles and all other types of low-speed vehicles. In some areas, traditional golf carts must also be covered by insurance. Even if you only drive it on the golf course, accidents can always happen, and you will likely be liable if you injure another person or their property.
Many individuals assume that either their homeowner’s insurance or their traditional vehicle insurance will cover their golf cart or NEV. Typically, this is not accurate. Most insurance companies offer “golf cart insurance policies” that lump all of these types of vehicles together. For example, All-State offers a golf cart-specific policy that is tailored to the kind of vehicle you are driving so you are covered both on the road (in a neighborhood electric or gas-powered low-speed vehicle) or puttering around the golf course. The price of the policy can vary based on the maximum speed, safety features, and intended use of the vehicle. Also, remember that any low-speed vehicle classified as a NEV must be both registered and insured before you can drive it on public roads.
Conclusions
Over the past few years, it has become harder to tell the difference between a golf cart and a NEV. Commonly the term “golf cart” refers more to the style of the vehicle and has less to do with the features the vehicle has. Most companies are aware of this change in the language, and many new models of neighborhood electric vehicles look similar to traditional golf carts while still technically being NEVs. Companies like Polaris GEM even market some of their NEV lines, specifically as golf carts. These golf cart-style NEVs can be found on college campuses, small-town streets, and even on the golf course. People are using them to navigate short trips around their neighborhoods and even relying on them for solving commercial transportation issues. Over time we very well may see these NEVs replace traditional golf carts entirely.
However, we also see a sharp rise in demand for NEVs that look and feel like small cars. The popular European Renault Twizy is a great example of a mini electric vehicle built specifically for city drivers, and it looks absolutely nothing like a golf cart. GEM is also beginning to veer away from the golf cart look on many of their newest models. These new mini electric cars can not only travel faster but can also go further and have more power than previous models of LSVs, including the street legal golf carts. Many people in the automobile industry consider these types of ultra-compact cars to be the future of automobiles in urban areas.
If you are in the market for a low-speed vehicle, you will want to make an educated decision based on your lifestyle and how you plan to use it. Neighborhood electric vehicles, golf carts, and LSVs each have their pros and cons. It all boils down to what’s most important to you. NEVs are an excellent option for a small commuter vehicle since they are street legal and loaded with safety features. Golf carts are great for when you are making short trips around a medium to large-sized property. Take the time to weigh your needs against the limitations of each vehicle before choosing which one is right for you.