Solar Golf Cart Tops FAQs
Posted by Amanda Taylor on February 10, 2009.
Voted “Best New Product Of The Year” at the 2009 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL!! The peel & stick design of Earth Care Products solar golf cart tops makes it easier and more affordable to go green. With our present economy at an all time low, rising fuel costs, and increased awareness about how various types of energy affect our environment…it has never been a better time to switch to solar power. For more information contact us or check out our site dedicated just to the Earth Care Product Line www.solarenergygolfcarts.com/golfcarttiresnmore!!
FAQS At A Glance
- Uses revolutionary, patent pending flexible solar panels made from thin film amorphous silicon that are powerful, yet light and almost unbreakable
- For every hour the panels are charging in peak sun the original charge will maintain it’s distance, with one additional mile added when driving on flat terrain
- Increases the range of the vehicle on average 50% between charges
- Will extend battery life by maintaining a continuous charge
- Easily installs in minutes on your existing golf cart top
- Saves money on electricity & helps our environment
- Allows you to save even more with tax credits for purchasing solar
- The payback for investing in a solar panel top can be as little as two years
- Can be used on any passenger size cart
For more information please watch the installation video below…
Most Commonly Asked Questions About Solar Golf Cart Tops…
How Does Thin Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Work?
Three separate layers of amorphous silicon, each tuned to a different frequency of sunlight, are laid down to create a cell with three active semiconductor layers or “Triple-Junction” cell. The first or active top layer captures a portion of the solar spectrum, the remaining sunlight then penetrates to the second layer which captures another part of the spectrum, and then the remaining light is then passed to the third layer and final layer. This gives the cell the ability to convert more of the solar spectrum into electricity, achieving higher efficiency!!
How Much Power Does The Thin Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Panel Provide?
This “Triple-Junction” cell achieves a higher conversion efficiency and seems to provide extraordinary amounts of energy the more your cart demands!! In some studies people have went days, weeks, and even months without charging!!
The Thin Film Amorphous Silicon Solar System was designed to charge a 12-24-36-48-72 or 96 Volt battery system by supplying a minimum of 1.35 amps constantly to a 36 or 48 Volt battery bank. Extended tops can expect a minimum of 2-3 amps constantly. This new technology of two and three separate thin line panels has the potential to deliver up to 3-5 amps!!
These revolutionary panels are able to produce watts constantly during direct sunlight, under artificial/fluorescent lighting, in cloudy or shady conditions, and even during rain or stormy weather!!
For every hour the top is charging in peak sun, the original charge will maintain its distance!! One additional mile will be added when driving on flat terrain.
How Does The Thin Film Amorphous Silicon Solar System Help Our Environment?
“For every 1.0 kilowatts of electricity generated by solar power, nearly 2.5 pounds of carbon dioxide is not released into the atmosphere. Using solar power rather than fossil fuel power on the golf cart reduces the CO2 released into the air by 452 pounds per year.” – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
How Does The Solar Panel Affect The Vehicle?
Studies showed the panel increased the range of the vehicle between charges by an average of 50%!!
Solar will also extend the life of your batteries by keeping them at a continuous charge!! Active charging reduces sulfur content of the lead cells in batteries, sulfur buildup is the number one cause of battery failure. If a normal set of batteries lasts four years, the solar roof panel should extend the cart’s battery life an additional two years or more!!
Additionally, with the solar roof panel & optional 12-volt plug installed your vehicle becomes a portable solar generator!! You can plug any 12-Volt appliance into it such as a small tv, lights, radio, and even a small refrigerator. If you live in an area where you experience high instances of power outages or storms, you can use an inverter to operate regular 110-Volt appliances off the batteries.
The Earth Care Solar Top has no moving parts and was designed to last many years, it will never loose it’s value, and the tax advantages are transferable from owner to owner as long as they are available. The panels come with a 3 year warranty, and the controller is covered for 5 years. People have used their panels well into the 20 year mark with no problems!!
How Long Does It Take To Charge A Battery System?
The manufacturer has received reports from uses where after installing a system on a nearly drained cart, they can get out and drive that same day!! It does not depend on the weather or level of sunshine, because the system will charge even on cloudy days!!
If you think about how your cart normally operates..your batteries get recharged while driving, the solar top will assist that normal recharging state!! Your batteries do not need to be fully charged, your cart will power up in just a few minutes and then continuously be charging.
How Far Will My Solar Top Golf Cart Go Before It Needs To Be Plugged In?
We are seeing a minimum of 50% more drive time!!
This technology allows charging simply from light, so when peak sunlight goes away or on cloudy days the product will keep working. If you park your cart under fluorescent light your batteries are being charged!! Customers are driving their carts days, weeks, and even months without charging!! The system may even eliminate plug in altogether for short distances in sunny areas for businesses with maintenance vehicles.
How Much Tax Credit Will I Get For Switching To Solar Power?
*As of January 1, 2006 an investment tax credit of 30% went into effect for utilizing solar power (IRS Form 3468 line 2b allows for a 30% tax credit for investing in solar). The solar panel and batteries are all considered part of a solar system on a vehicle. So, in addition to the solar credit you will be able to write off approximately $325 per year on your battery system!!
For more tax credit information please see our solar tax credit article in our faqs blog or check with your CPA.
What Are The Practical Benefits Of Our Solar Golf Cart Kit?
- You’ll be taking the steps to “Go Green” an help protect our environment
- You’ll reduce the chances of being stranded in your cart due to dead batteries
- A golf ball can not break our solar panel!! (No other product on the market offers this guarantee)
- Increases a golf carts power on inclines or hilly terrains
- Increase your batteries life by 25-50%
- Reduces your electricity bill
- Ideal for hunters & campers with no plug-in availability
- May eliminate plug in altogether for short distances in sunny areas for businesses with maintenance vehicles
- Turns a cart into a portable power generation system that can be used in emergency situations!!
- It is the most affordable way to convert a golf cart to solar power
- For nonprofit’s with golf carts it can be a manageable fund-raising target to go solar
If you need more information or would like to see about available discounts & volume pricing pleasecontact us we will be happy to assist you in any way possible!!
please send me info for a 36v golf cart.
(pricing etc)thank you.
The 36-Volt Model is usually for Ez Go Carts… both the 36 and 48 volt systems retail for $1695.00 and have free shipping!! You can see the 36-Volt Ez Go Model by going to the product page at: http://www.golfcarttiresnmore.com/products/ez-go-solar-golf-cart-top
We also have a site dedicated to the solar tops that has a lot of information at:
http://www.solarenergygolfcarts.net/golfcarttiresnmore/