How does a gas golf cart work?

[CharleyL]

For a car type DC generator to provide output, you need to provide 12 volts DC to the generator field. This is through a small terminal connection on the generator. You need the voltage regulator to be hooked to the generator for it to work properly as the voltage regulator will feed this field terminal with a varying voltage depending on how much output the generator is being asked to produce. Without a field connection to a voltage source, the generator will not produce output current.

Charley