Based on the terrain around here, I would be very interested in the DM01 in 1000 watts. How reliable have your builds been? How about upgrading the controller?
As pedaluma mentions, you really dont need 1000 watts to conquer hills(caveat: if your willing to go slow enough). But you already are used to the BBSHD(weight/power) so the DM01 would likely be a better fit for you.
There is no way 500W feels like 1200W climbing unless you just smoked a Vado, people can throw out all the buzzwords they want on energy use rate, efficiency and such but its basic physics. There is no way a DM02 is twice as efficient as a DM01. At the most if at all it would be only a few percentage points.
You might want to check out my thread in the DIY area (My DIY builds: GMAC, BBSHD, 9C RH212, CYC Photon, ToSeven DM01), another good source of info is the "high voltage electric vehicle channel (HVEVC)" on discord and youtube.
As far as controller upgrade, I dont see a way. HVEVC tried it with ToSeven motors and they never got the torque sensor working correctly.
I did blow up a controller on my DM01 but that was when its max current was 30A. I was pushing it hard going up a 6% hill battling a 20mph headwind to the tune of 1400W trying to keep up with a guy with huge DD motor. It didnt fail that day(although it shutdown) but about 5 rides later, many rides also testing the 1400W limit. The new controllers come from the factory set to 23A although you can change it(not recommended)
My DM01 with new controller has been flawless now for around 10 rides now, maxing out at 1100W at 52V. I rarely use that much power but it is always there when I need it. Most riding is 250-350 watts except for climbing or fighting strong headwinds and even then its around 850 watts.
The DM01 has a horrible chainline with anything smaller than a 46t. With a 46t chainring and 2mm spacer, my chainline is 55mm. This is on a boost spacing bike (soma juice 29r). I am also using Shimano Cues/linkglide 9 speed cassette/shifter which moves the required chainline out as it is using 11 speed spacing but on a 9 speed cassette (imagine the two biggest cogs on an 11 speed cassette being gone). No chainline issues.
I have been running 100nm+ setup on two BBSHD bikes for several years now(1 is now a DM01) as well as a Luna X2 (ludicrous). Chain wear isnt significantly worse than lesser powered ebikes. I usually replace chain+cassette at 1500miles which I have been doing on all my bikes (ebikes or otherwise). All I do for chain maintenance is spray a rag with wd40 and use that to clean the chain, then apply squirt chain lube. You do have to make sure you are using strong components but coming from a BBSHD, you should be aware of all that.
