GOLF CART COST PER MILE

Quick answer: An electric golf cart costs roughly 2 to 4 cents per mile to drive, while a gas golf cart runs about 8 to 12 cents per mile. At a typical 150 Wh/mile and a U.S. average power rate near $0.16/kWh, electric works out to about $0.028 per mile — roughly a third of gas. Over a few thousand miles a year the difference adds up to real money, but the gap depends on your electricity rate, gas price, and how you drive.

01 // What It Costs to Charge an Electric Cart

Electric cost per mile is just energy used times your power rate, divided by charging efficiency. A typical 48V cart uses around 150 watt-hours per mile on mixed terrain — less on flat pavement (closer to 110 Wh/mi), more when loaded or climbing (up to 200 Wh/mi). Chargers aren’t perfect, so divide by about 0.85 to account for charging losses.

The formula is simple: cost/mile = (Wh per mile ÷ 1000) ÷ 0.85 × electricity rate. At 150 Wh/mi and $0.16/kWh that’s (0.15 ÷ 0.85) × 0.16 = about $0.028 per mile. Even doubling your power rate keeps electric well under a nickel a mile. Your local rate matters most here — you can check the current U.S. residential average at the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

02 // What It Costs to Run a Gas Cart

Gas cost per mile is fuel price divided by fuel economy. A gas golf cart gets roughly 30 to 40 miles per gallon. At $3.30/gallon and 35 MPG that’s 3.30 ÷ 35 = about $0.094 per mile — more than three times the electric figure. And that’s before oil changes, spark plugs, filters, and the occasional carburetor cleaning, none of which an electric cart needs.

03 // Your Real Golf Cart Cost Per Mile

The numbers above are averages — your real golf cart cost per mile depends on your exact electricity rate, gas price, terrain, and how heavily you load the cart. Rather than estimate, plug your own figures into our charge vs. gas cost-per-mile calculator. It compares both side by side and shows your annual savings at your real mileage.

Cost per mile is only the energy piece, though. To see the full picture — purchase price, batteries, maintenance, insurance, and resale — run the cost-of-ownership calculator, which builds a five-year total for your specific cart.

04 // So Which Is Actually Cheaper?

For day-to-day driving, electric wins on running cost almost every time — often saving $100–$150 a year at a couple thousand miles, and more if you drive a lot. Gas only catches up in narrow cases: very long days far from an outlet, heavy towing, or if your electricity is unusually expensive and gas unusually cheap. Up front, gas and electric carts cost similar amounts new; the divergence is almost entirely in fuel and maintenance over time. For the broader buying decision, see our gas vs. electric golf cart guide and our breakdown of how much a golf cart costs.

05 // Costs Beyond the Per-Mile Number

Cost per mile captures fuel and electricity, but it is only one line in the real ownership budget. Electric carts shift their biggest expense to the battery pack, which is a periodic replacement rather than a per-mile cost — a lead-acid pack might last four to six years, a lithium pack ten or more. Spreading that pack cost across the miles you drive gives a truer picture than energy alone.

Gas carts trade the battery worry for routine maintenance: oil and filter changes, spark plugs, belts, and the occasional carburetor service. None of that is expensive on its own, but it recurs every season and adds both cost and downtime. Electric drivetrains have far fewer wear items, which is a large part of why total cost of ownership usually favors electric even when the upfront prices are similar.

There are smaller line items too — insurance if you register the cart as a low-speed vehicle, tires, and the slow drift of resale value. The per-mile figure is the right place to start a comparison, but pair it with the full five-year view from the cost-of-ownership tool before you decide which cart is genuinely cheaper for your situation.

06 // How to Lower Your Cost Per Mile

If the running cost matters to you, a few habits noticeably lower it. Keeping tires properly inflated reduces rolling resistance, and a well-maintained drivetrain wastes less energy, so both stretch each charge further. Driving smoothly — easing into acceleration rather than flooring it from every stop — cuts the watt-hours each mile demands, especially on a heavier cart or in hilly terrain.

The bigger lever is your energy source itself. Charging overnight on an off-peak electricity rate can shave a meaningful slice off the per-mile figure, and pairing the cart with a small solar setup can offset part of your driving entirely. On the battery side, a healthy pack holds charge efficiently while a tired one wastes energy as heat, so good battery maintenance quietly keeps your cost per mile where it should be. Small habits compound over thousands of miles a year.