Ducati has a new ace under its sleeve.
As the company replaced Energica as the sole supplier of racing electric motorcycles for the FIM MotoE world cup racing from 2023-2026, it revealed its first electric motorcycle.
In an announcement made last year, Ducati said that it will produce at least 18 of the bikes for the 2023 season of the FIM MotoE racing series.
What the New V21L Offers
The new electric motorcycle, known as V21L, looks like a classic Ducati but it is "swathed in carbon fiber and packs a 150HP electric motor with a 18kWh battery," as per Engadget report.
Electrek reported that each of the V21L electric motorcycles will be capable of outputting 110 kW (147 hp) and 140 Nm (103 lb-ft) of torque, and on a test circuit in Mugello, Italy, the bike was said to reach a top speed of 275 km/h (171 mph).
V21L weighs in at 225 kilograms (496 pounds). While it is quite heavy for a racing bike, it is 26 pounds under the MotoE specification for 2023. The vehicle also weighs significantly less than the Energica Ego's 282 kg (621 pounds), which is currently used in MotoE racing.
In just 45 minutes, the V21L can be charged to 80 percent. It has enough range to complete the required seven laps of key GP tracks.
There's a double circuit liquid-cooling system being shared by the battery and motor/inverter. It is "designed to help the bike operate at high performance levels for longer periods without being forced to throttle back due to heat build-up," according to Electrek.
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Ducati CEO is Impressed with V21L
Recently, Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali tested out the V21L prototype and he was impressed with the unit.
"A few weeks ago, I had the extraordinary opportunity to ride the Ducati MotoE on the track and I immediately realized that I was living in a historic moment," said Domenicali.
Domenicali noted that the world is going through a complex period and environmental sustainability is an important factor that all companies must consider if the goal is to save the planet.
Furthermore, the Ducati CEO said that the company has taken the challenge to contribute to the common goal of reducing CO₂ emissions and at the same time to keep its dedication in making racing vehicles.
"The result we have achieved is surprising. As soon as I sat on the bike, I realized the quality of the work done by the team and when I returned to the garage, I felt a deep sense of pride for what we were once again able to achieve," Domenicali expressed.
Meanwhile, Ducati's R&D Director, Veicenzo De Silvio, acknowledged that there's still work to do on the unfinished prototype. However, according to him, Ducati's diverse team of engineers "has taken to the challenge posed by building the next great racing electric motorcycle."
"For Ducati, 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," said De Silvio.
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