Ducati presented its first electric motorcycle
The motorcycle reaches speeds of up to 275 km/h and will be used for MotoE races.
Ducati has unveiled not only its first electric motorcycle but also a key piece of the puzzle for motorcycle racing in the 2023 MotoE season. The V21L prototype has that classic Ducati look but is wrapped in carbon fiber and has a 150-hp electric motor with an 18 kWh battery. Ducati will be the exclusive supplier of all 18 bikes to be used in the FIM MotoE World Cup from 2023 to 2026.
It weighs 225 kilograms, with the battery weighing slightly less than half of the total weight. It is very heavy for a race bike (65 kilograms heavier than the ICE model), but still 12 kilograms lighter than the maximum MotoE specification for the 2023 season. It is also 35 kg lighter than the Energica electric bikes currently used in MotoE racing.
The V21L can be charged to 80 percent in just 45 minutes and has enough range to complete the required seven laps on key GP circuits. It reportedly reached speeds of up to 275 km/h at the Mugello MotoGP circuit in Tuscany.
The choice of a new electric motorcycle seems like a gamble, given that it is the company's first, but Ducati claims to have used its extensive racing experience to design this model. At the same time, they will transfer the racing lessons learned to their consumer models.
"At the moment, the most important challenges in this area remain those related to size, weight, battery autonomy, and the availability of charging infrastructure," R&D director Vincenzo De Silva said in a statement. "Helping the company's internal expertise grow is essential today, so that we are ready, when the time comes, to put our first street electric Ducati into production" .
Post by Bryan C.
