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Can one 48V lithium battery replace six 8V lead-acid golf cart batteries?

2026-10-28

48V 100Ah LiFePO4 Golf Cart Battery (S51105) 51.2v 100ah lithium (S51105L)

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Redway Battery Editorial Team

Talk / Battery Q&A

Buyer question

A cart owner with six worn 8V flooded batteries wants to know whether a single 48V lithium battery is a like-for-like replacement.

Main answerRedway Battery Editorial Team

Main answer

Direct answer: Yes, in most 48V carts, if three conditions are met: the lithium pack’s current rating covers the cart controller, it fits and can be secured in the tray, and charging is changed to a lithium-compatible charger. Compare usable energy, not amp-hours: lead-acid is usually run to about half its rated capacity to protect life, while lithium can use most of its rating.

Why it works. Six 8V batteries in series give 48V nominal. A 48V LiFePO4 battery, often labelled 51.2V, works in the same voltage range for most 48V controllers. Confirm the controller’s maximum input voltage, because a full lithium pack sits higher than a resting lead-acid pack.

Energy comparison with stated assumptions. If your 8V batteries are rated about 170Ah, the set is about 8.2 kWh nominal, but using only about half gives roughly 4 kWh in practice. The 48V 100Ah (S51105) lists 5.12 kWh; at 80% usable that is about 4.1 kWh. The 48V 150Ah lists 7.2 to 7.68 kWh and the 48V 160Ah (S51160P) 8.19 kWh. Read your own battery labels rather than using this example.

Current. The S51105 page lists 100A continuous and 200A peak for 10 seconds. The 48V 150Ah FAQ lists 200A continuous and 400A peak. The S51160P is described as a higher-current model, but its FAQ states 100A continuous and 200A peak, so confirm its BMS rating in writing. Compare with the controller rating; see standard vs high-current 48V packs.

Fit and weight. Six flooded 8V batteries are heavy; one lithium pack is far lighter: the S51105 lists about 40 kg at 520 × 267 × 220 mm, the 150Ah about 55 kg at 510 × 410 × 235 mm, and the S51160P 72 kg at 800 × 360 × 232 mm. The tray needs a secure hold-down and spacers; see preparing the tray for a retrofit.

What else changes. The lead-acid charger must be replaced or switched to a lithium profile, and some carts have an onboard charging computer that must be dealt with. 12V accessories that were tapped from part of the old string need a DC-DC converter. The fuel gauge may need a lithium-compatible meter.

Old batteries. Lead-acid batteries are widely recycled; return them through a battery retailer or recycler.

Procurement perspective

↳ Replying to Redway Battery Editorial Team

Budget the battery, charger, hold-down kit, DC-DC converter and gauge together; quotes that cover only the battery hide most of the upgrade cost.

Redway Battery Editorial Team — Procurement perspective

Selection/Engineering perspective

↳ Replying to Procurement perspective

Check controller voltage range and current limit against the pack, and use usable kWh, not Ah, when comparing range.

Redway Battery Editorial Team — Selection/Engineering perspective

Maintenance perspective

↳ Replying to Selection/Engineering perspective

After conversion, there is no watering; check terminal torque and hold-down at the first service and then on the normal schedule.

Redway Battery Editorial Team — Maintenance perspective

Yes, in most 48V carts, if three conditions are met: the lithium pack’s current rating covers the cart controller, it fits and can be secured in the tray, and charging is changed to a lithium-compatible charger. Compare usable energy, not amp-hours: lead-acid is usually run to about half its rated capacity to protect life, while lithium can use most of its rating.

Verify before ordering: Lead-acid capacity figures vary by brand; the S51160P current rating on its page is inconsistent with its ‘higher current’ description; confirm with Redway.

Editorial Q&A for battery selection and operations. Product figures cited from Redway product pages.