Introduced Officially: 2023 Ducati V21L MotoE Electric Race Bike

March 21, 2023 / By Zunair Tahir / Automotive News

Ducati formally stated on March 17, 2023, that the all-electric V21L prototype vehicle would be unveiled at the Vallelunga track in Italy. This bike marks Ducati’s entry into the realm of electric motorbikes in general and electric race bikes in particular. Ducati will be the only manufacturer for the MotoE title starting in 2023, which was also given world championship classification for the first time this year.

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Ducati estimates the V21L’s power to be 150 horsepower at the present level of technology and its torque to be 103.3 pound-feet.

The V21L’s total vehicle weight is 496 pounds, which is 26.5 pounds less than what Dorna and the FIM currently consider to be the minimum weight for an electric vehicle that can run the entire competition route. It has thus far clocked a pace of 170.9 miles per hour at Mugello.

“A key component of the Ducati plan is the choice to compete in the MotoE World Championship as the single supplier of the motorcycles. To lower Ducati’s carbon impact and enable us to meet our long-term environmental objectives, electrification will actually be essential, along with the introduction of carbon neutral fuels for internal combustion engines (e-fuel), according to a statement from company CEO Claudio Domenicali.

However, he added, “Every genuine Ducati is, above all, feeling, so it is very essential to handle this shift very carefully, taking care to keep the sporty character and fun-to-ride traits of every Borgo Panigale bike.

“With the V21L, we set out to push the industry’s boundaries by making the highest-performing electric motorbike ever built for the racetrack. In order to be prepared when battery technology, specifically weight, makes it feasible to build an electric street motorcycle with all the qualities that make a Ducati distinctive, we prioritised developing the Company’s internal knowledge.

The chance for Ducati to research potential traits for a future electric Ducati is tremendous with 18 riders on the track at once, each with distinct needs and riding preferences, Domenicali said.

The initial evaluations in Jerez were excellent. Despite adverse conditions, the bike received excellent reviews from riders and teams, setting a new unofficial circuit record. This is a task within a challenge for us because Ducati has never produced as many prototypes,” he said.

The first round of testing was at the start of March, and the second round is scheduled for Barcelona from April 3 to April 5, 2023. The only two preseason trial days planned for 2023 are those two. On May 13, 2023, at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans, the MotoE season will formally begin. Nine teams will send a total of 18 motorcyclists to participate in this year’s MotoE world championship.