A real-world lithium conversion story from an HIO Authorized Dealer
They had discussed lithium conversion before, but this time Tom added helplessly:
“I’d love to switch, but the Owner isn’t interested.”
Inspired by real events and conversations with HIO dealers and customers.
Every now and then, we hear a story from our dealers that reminds us why we do what we do.
This one started as a simple conversation — and ended with a full fleet conversion at a local campground.
We thought it was worth sharing.
Where the Problems Began
Pine Ridge Campground had been struggling with aging lead-acid batteries in their 21 utility carts.
The vehicles were slowing down earlier each day, maintenance was piling up, and the staff were tired of dealing with unpredictable runtime.
Their General Manager, Tom, felt the pressure.
He needed a solution but he also needed approval from the Owner, who tended to be cautious with investments.
As it turns out, Tom had an old friend in town who ran a local golf cart dealership.
They’d known each other for years. The dealer had recently become an Authorized HIO Dealer and had been installing our lithium packs for a few months.
A Maintenance Visit
During a scheduled maintenance visit, the dealer came to Pine Ridge to service the campground’s lead-acid fleet.
He walked through the rows of carts, checked water levels, cleaned corrosion, and replaced a few weak batteries.
Tom stayed nearby, helping where he could and chatting casually.
At one point, Tom sighed and said:
“We keep running into the same problems.
My team isn’t trained for this kind of maintenance, and these batteries don’t last a full shift anymore.
I honestly don’t know what else to do.”
The dealer nodded. He had heard the same frustration from many other fleet operators.
“He still thinks lead-acid is ‘working fine.’
I don’t know how to convince him.”
The dealer paused for a moment, then offered a simple, practical idea:
“You wanna try one?
Let me bring a cart that’s already converted to HIO lithium.
Have your Owner drive it.
If he doesn’t like it, no worries but let him feel the difference.”
It was a small suggestion.
But it was the exact moment the story shifted.
The Test Drive
Over the next week, Tom and the dealer arranged a time to bring the lithium-converted cart to the campground.
When the day came, they invited the Owner to take it out for a quick drive, without mentioning anything about the battery.
The Owner had no idea he was getting into a completely different cart.
They just told him:
“Take this one today — see how it feels.”
He drove off and didn’t return for nearly twenty minutes.
When he finally came back, he looked at Tom and asked:
“Did you put in a new set of batteries?
This thing feels completely different.”
He assumed it was a fresh set of lead-acid batteries.
Tom smiled:
“It is a new battery… but it’s not lead-acid.
It’s a lithium conversion.”
The Owner was quiet for a moment, thinking about the drive he had just taken.
That short test drive told him more than any chart or explanation ever could.
The Decision
Back in the office, they reviewed the campground’s day-to-day demands, budget situation, and overall financial picture,
and the Owner said yes.
Just like that, the entire 21-cart fleet was approved for conversion.
A Final Thought From HIO
HIO wasn’t part of the conversations or the test drive that day, but hearing this story reminded us of something important:
It’s always meaningful to hear how HIO becomes part of someone’s day-to-day work in ways we never see.
We’re grateful that our dealer shared this experience with us.
Stories like this keep us moving forward.
Thank you for being with HIO.
We’re honored to be part of your journey — business or personal.
Inspired by real events and conversations with HIO dealers and customers.