Hi Paul
I experimented with golf carts years ago and found same problems as you, my solution was to redesign a new all purpose home/ farm electric vehicle that can do most of the small tasks around the home, very low maintenance, cheap and easy to operate, safe, could be run from solar, and operate my power tools or lights when not in use, I came up with this version of an electric garden tractor, it was so successful I called it "The Little Electric Tractor That Can" and made several short videos of things it does, to use power tools just add an inverter!
Links to my videos
hope you like them Little Eddie
Video #5 Ploughing Snow
Video #4 Ploughing Veggie Garden
Video #3 The Little Electric Tractor That Can! cutting grass
Video#1 on youtube
and