Vectrix not dead yet, but smelling funny and grounded....

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Mik
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Joined: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 15:27
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Vectrix not dead yet, but smelling funny and grounded....

I unfortunately had to send this email to the Australian Vectrix salesman today:

Xxxxx,

my Vectrix has started to smell of "smoke".

I would describe it as a "sickly-sweet aroma". Another person I asked for a smell opinion called it a "plastic smell".
It has definitely never been there before, I have paid attention to smell from day one, in fact the first thing I did was install a smoke detector above my first Vectrix!

I do of course assume that this smell is due to the battery fault that caused the recent recall request by Vectrix Corp.

I noticed the smell yesterday after a 10km ride and it was so strong that I noticed it outdoors where I have charged the Vectrix since your phone call a few weeks ago in which you advised me of the danger and your concern that my Vectrix might be at particular risk.

The smell appears to emanate from the battery cooling exhaust at the rear wheel.

My Vectrix is therefore unsafe to ride or charge, yet again.

I request that you now act immediately to replace the battery and to address the other problems with my Vectrix.

I fear that merely reworking the battery would now be insufficient because the fault has most likely caused some sort of damage to parts of the battery, hence the smell.

I would also like to re-draw your attention to the excessive and unacceptable noise and vibration from the gear box which I mentioned in previous emails.
You seem to have missed this amongst the other (less severe) problems (i.e. the broken side stand, the incorrect battery charge state display when the battery is empty, the poor range and the poor fit and finish of the fairing and windscreen).

My suggestion is that you test a Vectrix, new or used, in the facility that Yyyyy is developing until you know it is performing as good as most Vectrixes and then replace my Vectrix again. And soon. I am running out of time and patience (and money for fuel when the Vectrix is down).
I have applied for the Stamp Duty Refund from the last replacement but have not heard back from the Office of State Revenue, yet.
My understanding is that it will be refunded and that re-registering a new Vectrix will cause little extra cost.

The replacement Vectrix has been much worse than the original one.
You might be able to judge better than myself if attempting to fix this one is more promising than replacing it.

Alternatively you might want to consider if might not be as feasible as you thought to provide service under the warranty conditions for a Vectrix which is 2000km away. It is definitely not yet as reliable as you said....

If this is the case then I might agree to a refund of the purchase price, because I am not interested in causing immense amounts of pollution by repeatedly asking technicians to fly or drive vast distances to service and repair my Vectrix.

I will also likely continue to publish my experiences with the Vectrix. I still hope, as I did from my day one on the VisforVoltage forums, that it will be a positive report overall, but my aim is not to write a positive report, just a good and true report to the best of my ability.

A full refund of the purchase price might be the best -or the worst- outcome. I am really not sure.

I believe I have developed some credibility regarding the veracity of my Vectrix reports on the web.

If you are capable of repairing my Vectrix - or deliver a well working replacement Vectrix to me - then do it.
It does not need to be new, just working well, and white.
It will be tested and reported on the EV forum that currently comes up in several of the first places on Google when you search "Vectrix -owner, -test, -report, -real world, -problem, -service, etc. etc. ,"
What better advertising could you want?

Have you any idea what other producers would pay for that kind of exposure?

Or any idea of how much time and effort it takes to produce reports that are credible, meaningful, verifiable and accurate?

And all you have to do to reap the benefits is to deliver something similar to what the Vectrix ads promise - a reliable, high quality Vectrix with "negligible noise". Don't worry too much about the range - we all know by now that the Vectrix ads are exaggerated in regards to that.

Sincerely,

Mr. Mik

Mik
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Last seen: 8 years 1 week ago
Joined: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 15:27
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Re: Vectrix not dead yet, but smelling funny and grounded....

I received an answer today via email.

They are planning to fly here towards the end of the week and rework my Vectrix.

They believe the smell is due to another fault, not the battery issue and say they will rectify it.

I am of course advised not to ride the Vectrix in the meantime.

Whilst they did not say what the other fault responsible for the smell might be, I have heard in private conversations with other Vectrix riders that it is probably a smoldering, loose battery cable on the motor controller.

This is of course all guesswork until the battery and controller get opened up to check.

Mr. Mik

This information may be used entirely at your own risk.

There is always a way if there is no other way!

Mik
Mik's picture
Offline
Last seen: 8 years 1 week ago
Joined: Tuesday, December 11, 2007 - 15:27
Points: 3739
Re: Vectrix not dead yet, but smelling funny and grounded....

This information may be used entirely at your own risk.

There is always a way if there is no other way!

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