TOOL 02The five-year ledger

What it actually costs to own.

A street-legal golf cart (LSV) costs more than its sticker: charging, maintenance, Florida insurance, and the battery clock all run concurrently. This ledger adds it up honestly — including the lithium vs. lead-acid divergence dealers gloss over — and shows its assumptions so you can argue with them.

Five-year arithmetic

Run your numbers

CALCULATION · LIVE
ASSUMPTIONS DISCLOSED BELOW

ModelPurchase price ($)Miles per yearYour electricity rate ($/kWh)Battery type

Purchase price$12,499

Charging, 5 yr$221

Maintenance, 5 yr$900

Insurance (FL LSV), 5 yr$600

Battery replacement reserve$0

Est. resale at year 5−$6,250

True 5-year cost$7,970

METHODOLOGY — the assumptions behind these numbers

0.125 kWh/mi consumption · $180/yr lithium / $320/yr lead-acid maintenance · $540/yr FL LSV insurance · $1,600 lead-acid pack replacement inside 5 yr · 50% 5-yr resale retention. Directional estimates, stated so you can argue with them.

By the numbers — a typical Florida LSV

5-yr true cost (lithium LSV): $11,288; on a $15,000 cart, after resale
Charging, 5 years: $188; 2,000 mi/yr at $0.15/kWh
FL insurance, 5 years: $2,700; PIP + PDL required on a registered LSV

Assumptions: a $15,000 lithium factory LSV driven 2,000 miles/year for 5 years; 0.125 kWh/mile at $0.15/kWh; $180/yr maintenance; $540/yr FL LSV insurance; 50% resale retention. Directional — computed by the same math as the ledger above; run your own cart there.