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Ducati unveils the V21L, an electric motorcycle prototype that will equip the MotoE category, the electric motorcycle world championship, from 2023. On the program: 225 kg for 147 hp, and a speed of 275 km/h.
Acceleration literally, as well as figuratively, in the small world of motorcycle racing. The Italian Ducati, which belongs to the Volkswagen group, has been chosen by the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) to supply the motorcycles for the upcoming MotoE electric motorcycle championship. Until now, the supplier of the mounts was the Italian Energica, a specialist in electric motorcycles.
From 2023 until 2026, Ducati will take over with the V21L, an electric motorcycle still in the state of a rolling prototype. The Bologna manufacturer has unveiled the characteristics of this V21L, made up of a maximum of carbon fibers, while the frame and swingarm are made of aluminum. If the suspensions signed Öhlins are standard, the braking system has been specially developed and manufactured by Brembo.
Engine: 110 kW – speed: 275 km/h
With 225 kg on the scale, the Ducati is much lighter than the Energica (282 kg), despite the presence of an 18 kWh battery (110 kg; 1152 cells in 21700 format). This powers an electric motor (21 kg) developing 110 kW (147 hp; 18,000 rpm) for a torque of 140 Nm. On the Mugello test circuit in Italy, the V21L would have reached the maximum speed of 275 km/h.
Ducati explains that the powertrain assembly, under 800 V platform, including battery, motor and converter, shares the same liquid cooling system. This allows the motorcycle to run at high speeds for a period of time without the need to reduce the throttle due to heat buildup. The other advantage of such a configuration is the possibility of recharging the bike immediately after returning to the pits. According to the manufacturer, the charging power is 20 kW maximum for an 80% charge in 45 minutes. The interest of this architecture would lie in its road adaptation. For comparison, Zero and its SR offer a basic charging capacity of 3 kW, which requires waiting more than 3 hours to go from 20 to 90% battery.
Vicenzo De Silvio, director of R&D at Ducati, explained that there was still work to be done to make the V21L 100% operational by 2023, aiming for lap times between Moto3 and Moto2 thermal racing bikes. A goal that the MotoE Energica had not achieved. Due to their overweight, they were slower than the smallest of the MotoGP racing categories, the Moto3 (which, as a reminder, do not exceed 250 cm³ …)
Indeed, let’s not forget that if the car has successfully transformed into electric, the electric motorcycle is only in its infancy, even if some manufacturers such as Zero Motorcycles, Energica and Harley-Davidson have taken a some advance. Thus, for Vicenzo De Silvio, “the biggest challenges in this area remain those related to size, weight, battery life and the availability of charging networks. Ducati’s experience in the FIM MotoE World Cup will be a fundamental support for the R&D of the product, as well as the physiological evolution of technology and chemistry“.
The rapid development of the V21L is quite remarkable, however, as Ducati only started its racing electric motorcycle program in October 2021. It is hoped that a production electric Ducati will be put on the road quickly, even if the sound of the desmodromic distribution is likely to be missed by aficionados!