Club Car Precedent lithium conversion: OBC or ERIC, kits and install notes

Last updated 2026-11-03

Short answer: Every electric Club Car Precedent is 48V, so one 48V lithium kit replaces the whole battery bank. Precedents built 2004 to about September 2013 have an onboard computer (OBC) that usually needs bypassing for a lithium charger; carts built after September 2013 use ERIC charging and have no OBC. Epoch's 105Ah kit ($2,299) includes Precedent brackets, a charge-port plug and a 12V converter; Vatrer's 105Ah kit costs $1,579.99.

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Every electric Club Car Precedent is a 48V cart, so you don't have the 36V-or-48V question that EZGO TXT owners do. One 48V lithium pack replaces the whole lead-acid bank and the stock motor and controller stay. The part that trips people up is charging: older Precedents have an onboard computer (OBC) between the charger and the batteries, and it has to be taken out of the charging circuit. This guide shows how to tell which system you have, compares the kits we track for the Precedent, and lists what you still need to buy. Prices and specs come from the sellers' own pages, checked November 3, 2026.

Step 1: OBC cart or ERIC cart?

Club Car announced in April 2014 that its ERIC charger was standard on all Precedent electric cars built after September 2013, and that it can't be used on older cars with the onboard computer. So, as a rule of thumb:

Built 2004 to about September 2013: PowerDrive charging with an OBC. A lithium charger usually won't charge properly until the OBC is bypassed.
Built after September 2013: ERIC charging. There's no separate OBC to bypass; the vehicle controller handles those jobs. You still replace the ERIC charger with a lithium charger.

If the cart came to you used, check two things. The original charger is a clue: a big, heavy PowerDrive charger goes with an OBC cart, and the smaller ERIC charger goes with a newer one. The serial number tells you the build year, and our cart identifier decodes Club Car serials. Early Precedents (roughly 2004 to 2008) also came with four 12V batteries instead of six 8V batteries, and the tray layout differs, so measure before you pick brackets.

Step 2: pick a 48V kit

All three packs below are 51.2V LiFePO4 with a 200A continuous rating. Epoch and Eco Battery sell kits with Precedent-specific parts; Vatrer sells one kit for 48V Club Car, EZGO, Yamaha and ICON carts without a per-model list.

Kit	Price	Energy	What's in the box	Precedent fit
Epoch 48V 105Ah Golf Cart Battery Complete Kit (BB51105A-Kit) ($2,299)	$2,299	5.38 kWh	48V 15A charger (about 7 h from empty), Bluetooth gauge, remote on/off switch, 25A 48V-to-12V converter	Club Car Precedent brackets and a Precedent charge-port plug; case 18.1 x 13.4 x 9.8 in, 99 lb
Vatrer 48V 105Ah Lithium Golf Cart Battery Conversion Kit ($1,579.99)	$1,579.99 ($1,649.99 with a 48V-to-12V converter and hold-down strap)	5.38 kWh	58.4V 18A charger, LCD monitor, cables, terminal covers	Sold for 48V Club Car carts; no Precedent bracket listed, so measure your tray
Eco Battery 48V 105Ah Thru-hole Bundle Kit ($2,512)	$2,512	about 5.4 kWh	Bundle kit from Golf Cart Connection	Seller's fitment list includes the Precedent, Onward and Tempo

Epoch's box is the most complete for a Precedent: brackets made for the cart, a charge-port plug that replaces the factory receptacle, the 12V converter already included, and an 11-year limited warranty (5 years free repair or replacement, then 40% off a replacement). Vatrer's kit costs about $650-$720 less. If you want more range and your bay has room, the Vatrer 48V 150Ah Lithium Golf Cart Battery Conversion Kit ($2,099.99) holds about 43% more energy; Vatrer doesn't publish its case size on the product page, so ask before ordering. Our Epoch vs Vatrer comparison and 105Ah vs 150Ah guide go deeper on both choices.

Step 3: the OBC bypass, in plain terms

On an OBC Precedent, the charge negative runs through the onboard computer, which decides when charging stops based on lead-acid voltages. The bypass reroutes the charger's negative straight to the pack negative so the lithium charger and the battery's BMS are in charge. The same circuit also handles the charger-plug drive lockout (the cart won't drive while plugged in), so a careless splice can leave you with a cart that drives off with the cord attached. Wiring differs by year and connector, and Lester sells bypass kits matched to Precedent connectors. Epoch's own note is simply that an OBC bypass may be needed so its charger can charge the battery. Have a qualified installer do this step or follow the kit maker's instructions for your exact cart.

What else to plan for

Main fuse: Epoch says its kit doesn't include a main fuse or DC breaker and recommends one as close as practical to the battery positive terminal. Size it to your cables.
Old charger: retire it. Epoch says lead-acid chargers won't properly charge or balance its pack, and that applies to the ERIC and PowerDrive chargers alike. See the lithium charger guide.
12V accessories: lights and radios need a 48V-to-12V converter once the bank is one pack. Epoch's is 25A with a 40-90V input. See the 12V converter guide.
Controller upgrades later: if you add an AC kit such as the Navitas Club Car IQ/APPS 48V 600A 5kW DC-AC CAN kit 222-48VCANCCTAC2-5 ($2,000) or the Alltrax AC1-CCP-Kit + Motor (Club Car Precedent/Tempo/Onward, 650A 5.5kW) ($1,949), keep its battery current within the pack's ratings. Epoch lists 200A continuous, 300A for 15 seconds and 700A for 2 seconds. Our Navitas vs Alltrax vs Teekon comparison covers the kits.
Cold weather: don't charge below freezing. Epoch's BMS blocks charging under 32°F and the pack has no heater.

Quick picks

Easiest Precedent install: Epoch 48V 105Ah Golf Cart Battery Complete Kit (BB51105A-Kit) ($2,299), with Precedent brackets, charge port and converter in the box.
Lowest price: Vatrer 48V 105Ah Lithium Golf Cart Battery Conversion Kit ($1,579.99), after measuring your tray and planning the hold-down.
Longest range: Vatrer 48V 150Ah Lithium Golf Cart Battery Conversion Kit ($2,099.99), if the seller confirms it fits your bay.
Pre-2014 cart: any of the above, plus an OBC bypass done right.

Prices change often, so check the seller's page before you buy. Then add your cart and parts to the JuiceMyCart planner, and it will flag voltage, charger and current conflicts in your build.

FAQ

Does a Club Car Precedent need an OBC bypass for lithium?

Precedents built from 2004 to about September 2013 have an OBC in the charging circuit and usually need a bypass so a lithium charger can charge the pack. Club Car made the ERIC charger standard on Precedents built after September 2013, and those carts have no separate OBC.

How do I tell if my Precedent has an OBC or ERIC?

Check the build year from the serial number and look at the original charger. A large PowerDrive charger goes with an OBC cart; the smaller ERIC charger goes with a cart built after September 2013.

What does the Epoch Club Car Precedent lithium kit include?

Epoch lists the 48V 105Ah battery, a 48V 15A charger with a 10 ft cord, a Bluetooth gauge, a remote on/off switch, a 25A 48V-to-12V converter, a Precedent charge-port plug and Precedent mounting brackets. A main fuse isn't included.

Can I use my ERIC or PowerDrive charger with lithium?

No. Epoch says lead-acid chargers won't properly charge or balance its LiFePO4 pack. The Epoch and Vatrer kits both include a lithium charger.

Will lithium make my Precedent faster?

Not by itself. The motor and controller stay stock, so top speed stays close to stock, though lithium holds its voltage better on hills. More speed needs a controller or AC kit upgrade within the pack's current ratings.

General information only; all work should be completed by a qualified professional.

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