A Case Study on Golf Car Powertrain NVH Sources and Mitigation Methods

The golf market has remained flat in North America. Whereas, it has grown worldwide. A trend is seen where the number of young adults and adults over the age of 65 years involved with the game has increased. The demographics in golf showing the most growth also have high standards for the operation of the golf car. They have transcended their expectations to align with some of the qualities expected of automobiles. There is a shift in consumer expectations. Moreover, the market competition has also increased. This drives the OEMs to deliver refined golf cars with NVH being a key aspect in development. This paper showcases a recent study to improve the powertrain N&V performance of an internal combustion engine golf car. Primarily, a test-based approach is followed. Chassis rolls and on road testing are performed for benchmarking and target setting. System and component tests are performed to root cause issues. The tests further help to provide input for mitigation methods for application on the golf cars. Structural modifications address structure-borne noise and perceived vibration. Component modifications and additions address three key aspects. They reduce air-borne noise, decrease overall SPL, and improve sound quality for brand identity. These mitigation techniques are applied on the golf car. Jury evaluations correlated with on-road testing results for golf car improvement. The improvements were in both sound quantity and sound quality.