AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Environment Go Green Electric Golf Carts

Do it for the children.

Can you imagine what the carbon monoxide level must be in the blood of the children who live, play and go to school in downtown San Pedro?

When you need to replace your old gas cart, please buy an electric cart.

With time and a conscious effort, the replacement of all the gas carts with electric carts will clean the air, greatly reduce the noise, and make Ambergris Caye an even greater place to live and visit.

like it used to be?

No idea what you mean.

Anyway, the way to make the most profound positive impact and really go green, and not just mouth the platitude, is to switch to an electric golf cart when you need a new one. I just came back and while I was there I rode a bike from way south up to the bridge, to see for myself if an electric cart can go that far. Obviously it could, several times between charges.

But I also concluded that all those people on their loud, smelly gas guzzlers will never do it. And they may even claim to be environmentalists while refusing to give up their gas cart. That they "go green" by doing something that makes an infinitesimal impact, in between taking their gas cart 2 blocks to the store.

Actually the gas carts are not so "green" Battery manufacturers are some of the worst polluters in the entire world, and what happens to all of those old batteries? All of the heavy metals from the batteries are some of the worst polluting agents. And what produces all the electricity to charge these batteries?

The batteries here on Ambergris Caye are collected by the Town Council, and shipped to Ronco Battery Company in Belize City where they are rebuilt.
The electrical energy to recharge golf cart batteries comes from the Belize Grid which gets power from a combination of hydro power and Mexican power system which is natural gas powered.

dabunk, you would argue that emissions from the gas carts and their noise are equivalent to or better than recycling and charging batteries?

This issue is important because it comes down to a personal choice. The goal, of getting where you want to go without walking, is achieved with either type of cart.

Again, I don't see people giving up their gas carts. But I think it is important to point out that the green alternative is available when cart replacement time arrives.

I will not argue that batt carts are more efficient but to call them "green" is a big stretch.

How about "Light Green"?

hydrogen generators.......add water and go ....the cost of re-valving and re-ringing per year ...should be well under the cost of gassoline ! and the enviroment,,sighs with relief....!!

Light green is a great name.

"Like it used to be" - gas carts are a relatively new thing on the island. For many years all the carts were electric. I agree about the noise from the gas monsters - it's awful.
The motor bikes are fuel efficient but darn noisey too.
There are a few other noise monsters in air and on sea, but the carts are the most prevalent and therefore presently have the greatest negative impact.
Since these vehicles are here already I suspect we will have them here for many years to come - is there any way to fit them with mufflers that decrease the exhaust and noise?

i'm kinda surprised that they are noisy given the advancements made in 4 stroke motor design.
or are these just briggs& stratten lawnmower motors? or 2 strokes?
look at the new 4 stroke outboards for example. almost silent.
granted they do exhaust to the water, but i'm still surprised a gas cart is loud. i'm pretty sure they could be manufactured to be better, and maybe some are. just not the ones you have?
plus, if they are using those heavy lugged sand tires, those will contribute to the noise on hard terrain.
what about those yamaha 4 wheel things? are they noisy?

That's why I want one of these:

http://www.x-tremescooters.com/electric_mopeds/xm-5000li/xm-5000li.html

Golf cart engines are (in general) single cylinder (inherently noisy) 4-strokes. A big issue is corrosion of mufflers and headers which contributes to the noise. I've been trying to find a supplier of stainless mufflers for Club Car with no luck. Stainless mufflers are available for EZGo carts.

4 Wheelers and mules are the noisiest of them all. If I'm behind a Polaris on my motorcycle I have no idea what RPM I'm running at as I can't hear the engine or exhaust (which admittedly is not quiet.)

Irony alert: while we are discussing this, check out the thread in the Caye Caulker forum entitled "gas carts". Sigh.

Or how about one of these? Lots of green options

Simon, Cholos has stainless steel Club Car mufflers. I believe someone on the mainland makes them for him......not cheap though! Last time I had my muffler changed I believe he wanted $600.00BZ for one. I opted for the regular one since we only use our cart 5-6 months out of the year. By the way, Cholos price on the regular muffler was less than what I would have to pay in the US!

$600BZ is a good deal when you go through one every 18 months or so at $495BZ. I'll definitely check into it when I'm due for the next one. Thanks!

For the record, I'm an environment be damned kind of guy...

For me, it's all about the noise pollution. So I'm less Green than I am ear plugged I guess... but I'll hop on your cause if it means quieter vehicles.

Any suggestions on the best place to purchase an electric cart on the island?
Thanks

Captain Sharks.

Thanks!