Hydroturf introduces solar powered golf cart

Saving up to 70% energy than regular golf carts and reducing CO2 emissions by 100%.

As the region continues to address environmental concerns with the second World Future Energy Summit recently concluding in Abu Dhabi, Dubai-based Hydroturf - the Middle Eastern distributor for SolarDrive - launch the first solar powered golf carts into the market.

Ideal for use on golf courses, hotels, resorts, parks and municipalities, the solar powered carts have a state of the art SolarDrive roof made up of crystalline solar cells, which charge while they are driving, extending the battery lifetime through continuous charging.

Tests were carried out on golf courses in the Emirates where the solar carts were used together with Club Car battery power carts, allowing their performance to be directly compared. In all tests the solar power cart out-performed the battery powered vehicle.

As the cart charges while driving, it proved to be not just more efficient than its battery powered counterpart, but also more cost effective.

With such a favourable outcome, Hydroturf are looking to convert existing fleets and offer solar solutions to all new sales of Club Cars in the UAE in 2009.

"We are incredibly excited about this product and think that it will greatly contribute to helping reduce the carbon footprint of the region. There are thousands of Club Cars in operation in the UAE alone. If we can replace even half of these with the solar powered vehicles we will be reducing carbon emissions on the gasoline products as well as saving up to 70% of energy that the cart would use re-charging,"

said Brian Goudie, General Manager, Hydroturf, Club Car & Trojan, speaking on how the carts could benefit the region.