Source: https://ecotreelithium.co.uk/news/what-is-a-golf-cart-battery/

Golf cart batteries are a specific kind of deep-cycle batteries. Deep cycle batteries are batteries intended to be discharged to a majority of their fraction to provide long-lasting and consistent power. In this manner, golf cart batteries are very different from starter batteries of your car, which are intended to provide only a high initial burst of current for starting the engine.

Electric golf carts have batteries similar to the battery of electric vehicles, although with a lesser capacity. The lesser capacity is due to the fact that golf carts usually operate in a limited range with speeds of about 10 to 15 miles per hour.

In general, a golf cart battery consists of a number of battery cells connected in series. The exact number of cells depends on the rating of golf cart batteries. These batteries are rated in voltage configurations such as 6V, 8V, and 12V.

Therefore, if a golf cart battery requires 48V, there are three ways to achieve that: 8 batteries of 6V, 6 batteries of 8V, or 4 batteries of 12V. There are pros and cons to using each configuration. Lesser number of batteries with higher voltage ratings can be initially cheap when buying. However, a higher number of lower voltage batteries implies better and longer performance.

Gel lead acid batteries, commonly shortened to gel batteries, are lead acid batteries that replace the liquid electrolyte with a thick paste. The reason for using the thick paste (or gel) in these batteries is to eliminate the spill factor. The paste usually consists of the electrolyte suspended in a silica gel.

While these batteries eliminate the possibility of electrolyte spills, the rest of the disadvantages of lead-acid batteries still remain. Gel batteries require high maintenance and offer a low lifespan, leading to frequent replacements. Therefore, while they are cheaper to purchase, they offer little value for money in the long run.

Gel lead acid batteries, commonly shortened to gel batteries, are lead acid batteries that replace the liquid electrolyte with a thick paste. The reason for using the thick paste (or gel) in these batteries is to eliminate the spill factor. The paste usually consists of the electrolyte suspended in a silica gel.

While these batteries eliminate the possibility of electrolyte spills, the rest of the disadvantages of lead-acid batteries still remain. Gel batteries require high maintenance and offer a low lifespan, leading to frequent replacements. Therefore, while they are cheaper to purchase, they offer little value for money in the long run.

AGM batteries stand for Absorbent Glass Mat batteries and are another type of lead acid battery. These batteries replace the liquid or gel electrolyte with a fibreglass mat, making them truly spill-proof. The purpose of the glass mat is to saturate the electrolyte and absorb any battery acid.

Lithium batteries are an entirely different class when compared with lead-acid batteries. These batteries do not rely on fluid electrolytes, which makes them entirely spill-proof and reduces their maintenance requirements considerably. There are many different types of lithium golf cart batteries, such as Li-NMC batteries and LFP batteries.

These batteries also offer a longer lifespan and a better depth of discharge than lead-based batteries. Depth of discharge (DoD) refers to the degree of discharge possible in a battery without harming it. This means that lithium-based batteries provide a better operating range as compared to lead-acid batteries mentioned above.