[Moto] Ducat-E: Bologna brand release details on electric MotoE racer and hint at future production machines

[ROVEN]

Ducati have released fresh technical details of their 2023 MotoE racer, which looks set to provide the development data for plug-in production bike of the future.

Dubbed the V21L, the finished racer will be the sole machine used in the 2023 MotoE World Cup, with an 18-strong fleet lining up on the grid at a number of MotoGP rounds. They will take over from fellow Italian brand Energica, who have supplied modified versions of their Ego sportsbike since the inception of the racing class.

“The world is going through a complex period and environmental sustainability is an element that all individuals and all companies must consider a priority if we want to preserve the delicate balance of the planet,” Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali said.

 

The V21L is a collaboration between Ducati and their ‘Corse’ racing department, with development work then carried out on track by vastly experienced world championship racers Michele Pirro, Alex De Angelis and Chaz Davies.

The result of this stringent development is an electric racer boasting a claimed weight of 224.5kg, with a claimed max power figure of 147.5bhp and 103.3lbft of torque. It’s also achieved just shy of 171mph at open, fast circuits like Mugello.

“Having the opportunity to become suppliers of the FIM MotoE World Cup is not only a technologically exciting venture, but also the best way to interpret the challenges of the new millennium,” Ducati Technical Director Vincenzo De Silvio added. “Racing competition represents the ideal terrain on which to develop innovative technologies that will then transfer to production motorcycles.

“At this moment, the most important challenges in this field remain those related to the size, weight, autonomy of the batteries and the availability of the charging networks,” De Silvio continued. “Helping the company’s internal expertise to grow is already essential today to be ready when the time comes to put the first street electric Ducati into production.”

Providing power on the V21L is a 110kg battery pack with a capacity of 18kWh, helping the motor spin to a heady 18,000rpm. A 20kW charging socket is also found in the tail, with an advanced liquid cooling system to keep the temperature consistent and allow the power pack to be fully charged without need to cool down.

Ducati are claiming 45 minutes to recharge to 80% of its range and have also borrowed chassis technology from their combustion-engined superbikes. For starters, the carbon fibre tub holding the battery in place acts as a stressed member and uses a 3.7kg aluminium front frame, much like a Panigale V4. A 4.8kg aluminium swingarm also sports geometry inspired by the firm’s Desmosedici MotoGP racer, with a carbon subframe integrating the tail and riders’ seat.

Providing stopping power is Brembo, with beefy double steel 338.5mm discs upfront. You’ll also find 43mm Öhlins NPX 25/30 pressurised upside-down forks taken from the €100,000 Superleggera V4, while a fully-adjustable Öhlins TTX36 shock absorber is found at the rear.