Ducati pull the virtual visors out of the power motorcycle teeth make up the field of the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup, also known as the electric MotoGP motorcycle racing class, starting in 2023 when it will replace Energica Ego Corsa. The V21L prototype made its debut at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in Italy, a fitting position for the Italian manufacturer. And, unsurprisingly, the machine looks fantastic.
Michele Pirro, professional racer and since 2013 Ducati test racer, took to the wheel of the electric monster during its testing phase. “The bike is light and well-balanced. Moreover, the throttle connection in the first opening stage and the ergonomic design is very similar to a MotoGP bike,” he said. “If it weren’t for the silence and the fact that in this test we decided to limit the power output to just 70% of efficiency, I could easily imagine I’m cycling.”
Roberto Canè, Ducati’s Director of eMobility, also had high praise for the machine, calling it “special not only for its uniqueness but also for the type of execution: challenging both performance goals and time frames. extremely short.” That work doesn’t just serve as Ducati’s first electric motorcycle; The lessons learned in building this racing machine will serve the company as well as the effort to have a electric bicycle commercially available to paying customers by 2030.
We expect big changes before the V21L is officially ready for racing duty. Ducati cites remaining challenges regarding the size, weight and range of the the battery, as well as providing adequate cooling and appropriately consistent power distribution throughout the race.
The camera’s photos show what we’d imagine to be a large battery pack underneath the cooler, along with some sort of cooler underneath, though we can’t say what parts of the device. the vehicle – the engine, transmission and battery pack all seem to be capable of generating some heat – is liquid cooled. We see Ohlins suspension bits, a lot carbon fiber with a central aluminum frame element and a double-sided swingarm. We’ll just have to wait for more details, but in the meantime it’ll be interesting to see how quickly the prototype is being developed.
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