While lead-acid batteries average 500 cycles at 50% DOD, LiFePO4 offers up to 4,000 cycles at 80% DOD. This results in a cost-per-mile that is significantly lower over the life of the vehicle.
When evaluating battery costs, looking at the "Sticker Price" is a mistake. The true metric is Cost per Cycle. A standard golf cart lead-acid pack lasts 2 to 3 years. Over a 10-year period, you will likely purchase 4 separate lead-acid sets.
You can safely use 80-90% of a lithium battery’s capacity without damage, whereas discharging lead-acid below 50% significantly accelerates its failure. You get more usable energy from a smaller, longer-lasting package that pays for itself by the third year of ownership.
