Ducati electric motorcycle for MotoE carries out first tests at Misano
The prototype of the Ducati electric motorcycle that will race in the FIM Enel MotoE World Championship in 2023 completed its first laps on the track in Misano, Italy.
The Borgo Panigale factory will be the sole supplier of MotoE from 2023 onwards, the electric motorcycle class of the MotoGP World Championship.
The electric motorcycle prototype, codenamed “V21L”, is the result of the joint work of the Ducati Corse team and Ducati R&D engineers, led by Roberto Canè, Director of Ducati eMobility, and was taken to the track by Michele Pirro, professional pilot and test rider for Ducati since 2013, who evaluated the technical characteristics and potential of Ducati’s first electric motorcycle.
Roberto Canè, Ducati eMobility Director: “We are living in a truly extraordinary moment. I find it hard to believe it’s reality and it’s still not a dream! The first electric Ducati on the track is exceptional not only for its uniqueness, but also for its type of development: challenging both for its performance targets and its extremely tight deadlines. Precisely for this reason, the work of the entire team dedicated to the project has been incredible and today’s result repays the effort made in recent months. We’re certainly not done yet; in fact, we know that the road ahead is still very long, but in the meantime we have put in an important first ‘brick’.”
Michele Pirro, Ducati Test Rider: “Testing the MotoE prototype at the circuit was a great emotion as it marks the beginning of an important chapter in Ducati history. The bike is light and already has a good balance. The throttle link in the first opening stage and the ergonomics are very similar to those of a MotoGP bike. If it weren’t for the silence and the fact that in this test we decided to limit the power to only 70% of the performance, I could easily imagine that I was riding with my bike.”
According to the company, the most important challenges in developing an electric racing motorcycle remain related to the size, weight and autonomy of the batteries. Ducati’s goal is to make high-performance electric motorcycles characterized by their lightweight available to all FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup participants.
The focus of the project is, in addition to better performance, the containment of weight and the consistency of the power supply during the race, achieved thanks to the attention to the development of a refrigeration system that is fit for purpose.
Finally, Ducati’s experience at the FIM Enel MotoE ™ World Cup will be a key support for product R&D. The aim is to create, as technology permits, a Ducati electric motorcycle for road use that is sporty, light, exciting and capable of satisfying all enthusiasts.
Anyway, the company has already entered the electric world, with the launch of electric bicycles. For more information, access https://www.ducati.com/gb/en/home.
