Round Two

Today, I placed an order for one of the most crucial components - the electronic speed controller. I also purchased the main contactor and a couple fuses.

First Impressions:
I selected the KD72401 from Kelly Controllers. I was unsure at first whether or not to do business with them. I found slightly cheaper prices else-where, even though they manufacture the controllers themselves. Their website is alright, but not 100% clear, because of a language barrier. Also, I'd seen a forum thread where a VIP of Kelly was kinda rough on someone trashing their product. I was unsure, but I'm not anymore.

As of this moment, I could not be happier with the service they have provided, especially when compared to that of another internet-based electric vehicle component supplier. I contacted ElectricVehiclesUSA.com because of their competitive prices more than a week ago. I have not heard anything back from them as of yet. Mean-while, I contacted KellyControllers.com for the first time on Tuesday and I received a reply in thirty minutes. Furthermore, they have gone above and beyond what was necessary to make sure I'm taken care of. Plus, they seem to have some kind of 24 hours service thing going on because their operations are divided among different continents. They don't claim anything, as far as I've seen, but I can tell you one person or another has been working on my order for the last 7 hours (it's currently 11 pm, and I just got a confirmation email!), so I'm impressed.

ElectricVehiclesUSA.com has the best price on another few components I need, but I don't plan on doing business with them anymore. I've heard ok things about them, but not paying attention to a potential customer sends the worst of signals. To me, saving a few bucks is not worth poor customer service, especially when it's easy for something to go wrong with an order.

Anyway, the true test will come when it's time to install, program and operate the controller on the bike itself. Then, when it works and keeps working, I will be sold on their product and service, alltogether.

Power to the people:
Speaking of companies...
I called Mars Electric LLC today, for the fourth time. This call was 10 times more productive and meaningful than the previous three.

I ordered my motor, the ME709, from them nearly two weeks ago. I emailed their sales department (only email listed) for a tracking number two days later and I didn't get a response. I called and spoke to a gentleman who took my name and email and said "he'd get right on it." Two days later, I still hadn't received a tracking number, so I called and left a polite, clear, and detailed message. I never got a call or an email with the tracking information I wanted. My other parts, from various merchants had arrived, but I knew nothing at all about the status of my motor. So, this afternoon, I gave it another shot and all things were made clear to me.

The actual sales person for Mars Electric had been on vacation for more than a week. The salesman was super nice, knew my order based on my name alone, took interest in my application, and said he would do his best to get it processed asap. I received a tracking number late in the afternoon and apparently the package is already on its way. Whoever I talked to originally was having to fill-in, I suppose. The problem is, they didn't communicate that to me at any point. I realize you don't want to tell customers to just "try again later because so-and-so isn't here", but I'd prefer that over the silent treatment. At least then, I would understand why nothing was being done, and that I should just wait. Mars Electric had the best price, so I'm glad it's worked out so far.

Overview:
At this point, I've ordered or received the following:

• Batteries
• Battery Chargers
• DC-DC Converter
• Motor
• Motor Controller
• Main Contactor
• Main Fuse w/ holder
• Controller fuse w/ holder
  

I still need to get the following (not an exhaustive list):

• Throttles for Motor Controller input
• Drive and Driven sprockets
  
• Chain to match the sprockets
  
• Large & small wiring cables & hardware
  
• PakTrakr (maybe a Fit-PC w/ custom software to log / report / graph on)
  

I'm getting there though, and I'll tell you. It's really exciting. With a lot of help from others (with more experience than myself), I'm designing and building my own vehicle and that feels pretty cool to me.

-Colby