EZGO TXT Lithium Conversion Guide (48V and 36V): Fitment, Charger Plug and Install

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The EZGO TXT is the easiest golf cart in America to convert to lithium: a flat, roomy battery bay, a simple wiring layout, and no on-board computer to argue with. The one thing that trips people up is that “TXT” covers two different electrical systems, a 36V cart built from 1994 to 2009 and a 48V cart built from 2010 onward, and they need different batteries and different charger plugs. This guide covers both, from confirming which one you have to the first charge after the swap.

Step 1: Which TXT Do You Have?

Count the batteries under the seat: six means 36V, four means 48V. If the cart has been repowered before and you’re not sure, check the controller label: a 36V controller and a 48V controller are marked as such. Don’t guess from the model year alone; some 2009 carts were sold as 48V and some 2010 stock was still 36V.

Both versions have a Run/Tow switch under the seat. Every step below starts with that switch in TOW. It disconnects the controller so nothing sparks or gets damaged while you’re working on the pack.

Step 2: What You Need to Buy

For a 48V TXT (2010+)

• One 48V lithium pack, 100–150Ah. Most 48V packs measure around 20″ × 12.5″ × 9.5″ and drop straight into the TXT48 tray. Popular choices on Amazon: Vatrer 48V 105Ah, DC HOUSE 48V 100Ah kit, LOSSIGY 48V 100Ah kit. Need more range? The Vatrer 48V 150Ah is the common step up. Use the range guide to pick a size. Pack sizes and weights compared
• A 48V lithium charger with the right EZGO plug. A 2010 to 2013 TXT48 has the notched rectangular Powerwise QE plug; a 2014 or newer TXT48 has the 3-pin triangle. Many kits bundle a charger; check the listing names your plug, or buy the 48V lithium charger with the EZGO triangle plug separately. If the bundled charger has a different plug, buy an adapter or a charger with the correct plug rather than cutting the cart’s receptacle.
• A 48V-to-12V reducer if the cart has lights, horn, or a stereo. Under lead-acid these accessories usually tapped one 12V battery; with a single lithium pack that tap no longer exists.
• Hold-down hardware. Some packs ship with a bracket; otherwise a ratchet strap through the tray slots works.

For a 36V TXT (1994–2009)

• One 36V lithium pack, typically 60–105Ah. The six-battery 36V tray is larger than the four-battery 48V tray, so fit is never the issue; securing the pack is. See 36V options on Amazon and confirm “EZGO TXT 36V” appears in the fitment list.
• A 36V lithium charger with the Powerwise D plug. The D plug is only used on 36V EZGOs, so any charger sold “for EZGO 36V” will have it, such as this 36V lithium charger with the D plug.
• A 36V-to-12V reducer for accessories (not a 48V unit).
• Hold-down hardware: more important here because the pack sits in a bay sized for six batteries.

Thinking about going from 36V to 48V at the same time? That’s possible, but it means a new controller, solenoid and usually motor in addition to the battery, which makes it a different project. If you just want lithium, stay at 36V. See our 36V-to-48V conversion guide for the full picture, and why a lithium swap keeps the stock controller and solenoid.

Step 3: The Conversion, Step by Step

Time: 1–2 hours. Tools: 1/2″ and 9/16″ wrenches or sockets, wire brush, a helper for lifting (each lead-acid battery weighs 55–65 lb), and safety glasses.

1. Run/Tow switch to TOW. Then key off, key out.
2. Photograph the existing wiring before touching anything, especially where the main positive and main negative leave the pack and where any accessory wires tap in.
3. Disconnect the main negative first (the cable that goes from the last battery to the controller/motor side), then the main positive. Tape the cable ends so they can’t touch a terminal while you work.
4. Remove the series jumper cables between batteries. Keep the good ones; you may reuse the main leads.
5. Lift out the batteries. Use a battery strap or a helper. Set them on cardboard, not concrete, if you’re returning them for a core credit.
6. Clean the tray. Neutralize acid residue with a baking-soda-and-water paste, rinse, dry. Wire-brush the tray and any corroded hold-down points. Now is the time to treat rust; it’s the only time you’ll see the bare tray.
7. Set the lithium pack in the tray with the terminals oriented toward where your main leads reach. On a 48V TXT it usually sits centered; on a 36V TXT choose one end and fill the rest with the pack’s foam spacers or a bolted-in block.
8. Secure the pack before connecting anything. Strap or bracket it so it cannot slide forward under braking.
9. Connect main positive to the pack’s positive terminal, torque to the pack manufacturer’s spec (typically 8–10 ft-lb for M8 terminals; check the manual). Then main negative to the pack’s negative. If the controller has large capacitors, pre-charge before the last connection so the BMS does not trip on the inrush: how to reset a tripped BMS if it already has.
10. Wire the reducer (if fitted): input across the pack’s positive and negative, output to the accessory circuit where the old 12V tap used to be. Fuse the input.
11. Run/Tow switch to RUN. Key on. The cart should wake normally. If it does nothing, see the troubleshooting section below before pulling anything apart.
12. Test drive at low speed in an open area, then plug in the charger and confirm it starts a charge cycle.

EZGO-Specific Notes

The PDS controller and regen braking

PDS carts (2000–2009 36V, and all 48V TXTs) use regenerative braking on downhills, which pushes current back into the pack. Every lithium pack sold for golf carts has a BMS that accepts charge current, so this is normal, but a pack that’s already at 100% at the top of a long hill can briefly hit its charge-cutoff limit and the cart will feel like it lost the “engine brake” for a moment. It’s not a fault. If you live on a hill, don’t charge to 100% right before descending; many packs let you set a 90% charge limit.

Charger plugs: don’t cut the receptacle

Owners sometimes cut the cart’s charger receptacle and hard-wire a lithium charger with a different plug. It works, but it makes the cart harder to sell and means every future charger needs the same modification. Adapter cables exist for every EZGO plug for a fraction of that headache. Which of the three EZGO plugs you have: plug types by year. Still hoping to keep the stock Powerwise charger? Read this first.

The state-of-charge meter

The factory dash meter on a TXT is calibrated for lead-acid voltage curves. With lithium it will sit near “full” for most of the ride and then drop quickly because lithium holds voltage flat. Most lithium packs include a Bluetooth app or a small external display that reads true state of charge; use that instead. A lithium-calibrated meter is a cheap upgrade if your pack didn’t include one. The full explanation, with the voltage table a lithium meter uses: why the factory meter reads wrong on lithium.

Troubleshooting After the Swap

For deeper diagnostics see Lithium Golf Cart Battery Won’t Charge, Cart Won’t Move After Lithium Conversion, and what a BMS cutoff feels like and how to reset it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a 48V lithium battery fit an EZGO TXT?

Yes, in a 2010-or-newer TXT48. Nearly every 48V drop-in pack lists the TXT by name. A 1994–2009 36V TXT needs a 36V pack unless you also upgrade the controller and motor.

Do I need a new charger for my EZGO TXT after converting to lithium?

Almost always. The stock Powerwise charger uses a lead-acid profile that most lithium BMS units reject. Buy a lithium charger with the same plug as your cart: the D-plug for 36V, the notched Powerwise QE plug for a 2010 to 2013 TXT48, or the 3-pin triangle for 2014 and newer.

How much does an EZGO TXT lithium conversion cost?

A complete 48V kit with charger and reducer typically runs $850–$1,900; 36V kits are usually a little less. Full breakdown in Is a Lithium Conversion Worth It?

Will lithium make my TXT faster?

Top speed is set by the controller and motor, so no. Hill climbing and acceleration improve noticeably because lithium holds voltage under load and the cart is 250–300 lb lighter.

What size lithium battery does an EZGO TXT need?

Next Steps

Confirmed your TXT is 48V? Compare packs in Best 48V Lithium Golf Cart Battery; 36V owners, see Best 36V Lithium Golf Cart Battery. Not sure a lithium pack will fit your tray or match your charger port? The fitment guide has the full model table.