Lithium Golf Cart Battery Fitment Guide: Which Battery Fits Your Cart (by Make & Model)
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You have a golf cart. You want to swap the lead-acid batteries for lithium. Before you spend $700 to $2,500, you need three answers: what voltage your cart runs, whether a lithium pack physically fits your battery tray, and which charger port you’ll need to match. This guide walks through all three, then gives you a model-by-model fitment table for EZGO, Club Car, Yamaha, ICON and Evolution carts.
Every spec here comes from manufacturer product pages and fitment listings, linked in the table. Where owners on forums report something we can’t confirm from a datasheet, we say so.
Step 1: Find Your Cart’s Voltage in 30 Seconds
Open the seat and count the batteries, then read the voltage printed on any one of them. Multiply the two numbers together:
| Batteries you see | Voltage on each | Your cart is | Typical carts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6V | 36V | EZGO TXT 1994 to 2009, Club Car DS pre-1995, older Yamaha G-series |
| 6 | 8V | 48V | Club Car DS 1995+, Precedent, Yamaha G19/G22/G29, ICON, EZGO Express |
| 4 | 12V | 48V | EZGO TXT48 2010+, EZGO RXV, Yamaha Drive2, many newer carts |
| 8 | 6V | 48V | Some heavy-duty and utility carts |
| 6 | 12V | 72V | Some 6-passenger and lifted performance carts |
That single number decides everything. A 36V cart needs a “36V” lithium pack (actual nominal voltage 38.4V). A 48V cart needs a “48V” pack (51.2V nominal). You cannot put a 48V lithium pack into a 36V cart without also replacing the controller, solenoid and usually the motor; that’s a different project covered in our 36V-to-48V conversion guide, and why a same-voltage lithium swap keeps the stock controller.
Can’t see the batteries clearly? The serial number tells you the model and year. EZGO stamps it on a plate under the passenger-side glovebox or on the frame near the accelerator. Club Car puts it under the passenger-side dash or on the frame rail. Yamaha’s is on the frame under the driver’s seat or rear bumper area. Type the serial into the manufacturer’s lookup page and it returns the year and model.
Step 2: Measure the Tray and Photograph the Charger Port
Lithium packs marketed as “drop-in” are built to sit in the space your lead-acid batteries occupy. But trays differ by model and by year, and the difference between a pack that slides in and one that sits on the rails is sometimes half an inch.
- Measure the inside of the tray: length, width, and the height from the tray floor to the underside of the seat frame. Write all three down.
- Note the hold-down style: a metal bar across the top, straps, or nothing. Lithium packs are lighter and must be secured; a loose 60-lb box sliding around a fiberglass battery bay is how cables get torn.
- Photograph the charger receptacle on the cart body. Charger plugs are not interchangeable between EZGO, Club Car and Yamaha, and even within EZGO the TXT and RXV use different plugs. Your new lithium charger must match this port (or you’ll need an adapter). Plug shapes and years for every cart.
Most 48V drop-in lithium packs from the major aftermarket brands measure roughly 20″ × 12.5″ × 9.5″ (for example, Vatrer lists its 48V 105Ah EZGO pack at 19.69″ × 12.52″ × 9.61″). That footprint fits inside the space that four 12V or six 8V lead-acid batteries occupy in most carts, which is why one pack can serve so many models. The exceptions are carts with unusually shallow or narrow trays: some older Yamaha G-series and a few utility models, where a “thin” or “square” form factor pack is sold instead. Published dimensions and weights of every common pack: lithium golf cart battery size chart.
Lithium Golf Cart Battery Fitment Table by Model
Use this as a starting point, then confirm against the specific battery’s fitment listing before ordering. Brands update trays mid-year more often than you’d expect.
| Cart | Years | Stock voltage / config | Drop-in lithium path | Charger port (verify by photo) | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EZGO TXT | 1994 to 2009 | 36V (6 × 6V) | Single 36V (38.4V) pack, 60 to 105Ah | Powerwise “D” plug | Old resistor-coil carts (pre-1994 Marathon) need the PDS/DCS-style controller check; most TXTs are fine |
| EZGO TXT48 | 2010 to present | 48V (4 × 12V) | Single 48V pack, 100 to 160Ah | Notched rectangular Powerwise QE (2010 to 2013); 3-pin triangle (2014 on) | Fits the tray easily; keep the factory hold-down bar |
| EZGO RXV | 2008 to present | 48V (4 × 12V) | Single 48V pack, 100 to 160Ah | 3-pin triangle (third pin is a charger interlock) | ELiTE (factory lithium) models need a CAN-compatible kit; see the ELiTE guide. |
| EZGO Express / L6 | 2008 to present | 48V (6 × 8V) | Single 48V pack, 105Ah+ | Same family as TXT48 by year; photograph it | Heavier 6-seat carts benefit from 150Ah+ for range |
| Club Car DS | 1982 to 1994 | 36V (6 × 6V) | Single 36V pack | Crowfoot 3-prong | Very old carts may have a resistor speed control; confirm before buying |
| Club Car DS | 1995 to 2013 | 48V (6 × 8V) | Single 48V pack | Round 3-pin | Carts with an On-Board Computer (OBC) need the OBC bypassed or the charger won’t start; see Club Car section |
| Club Car Precedent | 2004 to present | 48V (6 × 8V; some 4 × 12V) | Single 48V pack, 105 to 160Ah | Round 3-pin | OBC bypass required on many years; MCOR throttle unaffected |
| Club Car Onward / Tempo | 2017 to present | 48V (6 × 8V or factory lithium) | Single 48V pack or OEM-style Eco Battery | Round 3-pin | Factory-lithium models use a communicating BMS; aftermarket packs work but lose the dash gauge integration |
| Yamaha G19 / G22 | 1996 to 2007 | 48V (6 × 8V) | Single 48V pack (check tray depth) | Yamaha 2-pin (Mac-style) | Shallower tray on some years; measure height |
| Yamaha G29 “The Drive” | 2007 to 2016 | 48V (6 × 8V) | Single 48V pack, 105Ah+ | Yamaha 3-pin clover | Very common conversion; many packs list it by name |
| Yamaha Drive2 | 2017 to present | 48V (4 × 12V) / factory lithium option | Single 48V pack | Yamaha 3-pin clover | AC-drive models are fine with lithium; keep the factory controller settings |
| ICON i20 / i40 / i60 | 2018 to present | 48V (6 × 8V or factory 105Ah lithium) | Replacement 48V pack or capacity upgrade | Onboard charger; Anderson SB50 at the pack on lithium models; verify | Many ICONs already ship lithium; confirm you’re upgrading capacity, not just replacing like-for-like |
| Evolution D5 / Classic / Forester | 2019 to present | 48V factory lithium (105 to 150Ah) | Replacement 48V pack | Model-specific; photograph it | Factory packs have a communicating BMS for the dash display; an aftermarket pack may show a generic gauge |
Sources: manufacturer fitment listings from Vatrer, Fleet Lithium, Allied Lithium and Bolt Energy USA, plus EZGO, Club Car and Yamaha owner’s manuals for stock configurations. Charger-port names follow the aftermarket convention; always match by photo.
EZGO: TXT, TXT48 and RXV
EZGO is the easiest brand to convert because the three main electric models share a generous, flat battery bay. The complication is the charger plug: the 36V TXT uses the D-shaped Powerwise connector, the 2010 to 2013 TXT48 uses a notched rectangular plug, and the RXV and every TXT48 from 2014 on use a 3-pin triangle whose third pin is a charger interlock. If you buy a lithium pack bundled with a charger, order the charger with the correct EZGO plug; most sellers offer all three.
RXV owners: the RXV’s electromagnetic parking brake and controller stay awake when the cart is parked. With lead-acid this was invisible; with lithium, a pack that hits its BMS low-voltage cutoff while parked will leave the cart locked. Choose a pack with a generous low-voltage margin and charge before long storage. Full details in the EZGO RXV conversion guide.
Popular drop-in packs for EZGO on Amazon: Vatrer 48V 105Ah, DC HOUSE 48V 100Ah, LOSSIGY 48V 100Ah. Step by step for the TXT: EZGO TXT lithium conversion.
Club Car: DS, Precedent, Onward and the OBC Problem
What the On-Board Computer does
Club Car carts from roughly 1995 onward have an On-Board Computer that counts amp-hours out and tells the factory charger when the lead-acid pack is full. It was a good idea for lead-acid. For lithium it causes two problems: the OBC expects a lead-acid charge curve and can refuse to let a charger run, and it keeps tracking a battery that no longer exists.
The standard fix is an OBC bypass: the charger’s negative lead is moved so it no longer routes through the OBC’s sense circuit, or a small bypass module is installed. Most lithium-with-charger bundles sold “for Club Car” include bypass instructions. It’s a 20-minute job, but skipping it is the number-one reason a new lithium pack in a Club Car “won’t charge.” We cover the wiring step by step in the Club Car DS & Precedent conversion guide.
Precedent and Onward fit
The Precedent tray takes a single 48V pack with room to spare. Onward and Tempo carts sold with factory lithium use a pack that talks to the dash; an aftermarket replacement works electrically but the fuel-gauge display may go blank or read generically. Budget for a separate battery meter if that matters to you; why the dash gauge misreads lithium.
Yamaha: G19, G22, G29 Drive and Drive2
Yamaha’s G29 Drive (2007 to 2016) is one of the most-converted carts in the country and nearly every 48V pack lists it by name. The Drive2 (2017+) is equally straightforward. The older G19 and G22 need a tape measure: some years have a shallower tray, and a standard 9.5″-tall pack can sit high enough to interfere with the seat. If your measurement is under 10″ of clearance, look for a “thin” form factor pack. Full walkthrough: Yamaha G29 Drive and Drive2 lithium conversion.
Yamaha’s charger port changed from the 2-pin connector on the G19 and G22 to the 3-pin clover on the G29 Drive and Drive2 from 2007 onward. Order the charger by cart year, not by cart model. Full walkthrough for the older carts: Yamaha G16, G19 and G22 lithium conversion.
ICON and Evolution: Already Lithium, So What Are You Replacing?
Most ICON and Evolution carts sold since 2020 came with a 48V lithium pack from the factory, usually 105Ah. Owners upgrade for two reasons: the factory pack failed out of warranty, or they want more range for a lifted cart with 23″ tires. Either way you’re buying a replacement 48V pack, and the main question is the charger port and whether you want the dash gauge to keep working. Factory packs use a communicating BMS; a standard aftermarket pack will run the cart fine but the display may not read state of charge correctly. An inexpensive external meter solves that. Brand-specific details: ICON lithium guide and Evolution lithium guide.
What Else You’ll Need Besides the Battery
- A lithium-compatible charger with the right plug for your cart. Lead-acid chargers use a charge profile that most lithium BMS units reject. Charger compatibility guide and best lithium golf cart chargers by plug.
- A 48V-to-12V voltage reducer if your cart has lights, a horn, a stereo or a fan. With lead-acid these often tapped one 12V battery; with a single lithium pack there’s nothing to tap. Do you need a reducer?
- Hold-down hardware: a bracket, strap or foam spacers so the lighter pack can’t shift.
- Cables: most packs include short jumpers; you may need longer main leads if the pack sits in a different position than the old batteries. Gauge, lug sizes and kits: golf cart battery cables and gauge.
- A battery meter: if your factory gauge stops reading correctly (common on Club Car and any cart with a communicating factory pack). Meter options for lithium.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a lithium battery fit an older golf cart?
Almost always, as long as the cart is 36V or 48V and has a solid-state controller. The tray on a 1990s EZGO or Club Car is the same footprint as a modern one. Very old carts with resistor-coil speed control are the exception and need the controller replaced first.
Do I need one lithium battery or several?
One. A single 48V lithium pack replaces all four, six or eight lead-acid batteries. Some brands sell 12V lithium units you can wire in series, but for a golf cart the single pack is simpler, lighter and easier to secure. Two identical packs in parallel are an option for range and current; see adding a second lithium battery in parallel.
How do I know which charger plug my cart has?
Photograph the receptacle on the cart and compare it against the seller’s plug chart. The names Powerwise D, Crowfoot, RXV 3-pin, Yamaha 2-pin, SB50 are aftermarket conventions, and the photo is more reliable than the name. Plug shapes and years for every cart.
Does the lithium pack need to be the same size as my old batteries?
No, it needs to be no bigger. Lithium packs are usually smaller than the lead-acid set they replace, which is why hold-down hardware matters more than clearance for most carts. The old batteries are worth money at a recycler; see how to dispose of old golf cart batteries.
Can I keep my old charger?
Usually not. Some newer “smart” chargers have a lithium mode; most older ones don’t, and a lead-acid charger can either refuse to charge or push the pack past its BMS limits. Check the charger’s manual for a lithium profile before assuming, or run the ten-minute test in can you use a lead-acid charger on a lithium golf cart battery.
Next Steps
Once you know your voltage, tray dimensions and charger port, head to the battery comparison for your voltage, 48V lithium golf cart batteries compared or 36V options, and pick by amp-hours and BMS rating. If you’re still deciding whether the swap is worth it, our cost-per-year breakdown runs the numbers against lead-acid. Ready to choose a pack? Start with Best Lithium Golf Cart Battery for picks at every voltage.
