Ducati CEO Rides and Talk MotoE

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Claudio Domenicali says he found Ducati’s V21L MotoE racer easy to ride. (Ducati/)

Ducati’s first electric motorcycle, the V21L prototype that will compete in the FIM MotoE World Cup starting in 2023, was officially presented on June 30th just outside Modena at Casa Maria Luigia, an elegant villa run run by 3-star Michelin chef Massimo Bottura.

From first sight it was clear that in many ways Ducati’s MotoE project is the opposite of all the electric motorcycle projects which have gone before. With Ducati’s motorcycle engineering know-how, support from experience parent company Audi, and the dedication of the Ducati Corse racing department,  a prototype has been created specifically for MotoE, rather than adapting an existing road bike to transform it into a racing machine.

As with every motorbike built at Borgo Panigale, the design of the V21L started from a white piece of paper. There was full collaboration between the race department, the street bike development center, and the creative pencil of the Centro Stile.

 

We had the chance to discuss the V21L with the CEO of Ducati, Claudio Domenicali, who personally tested the MotoE bike at Mugello circuit in May.

The V21L marks the start of a new era. What is the philosophy of this bike?

“The MotoE project has a strategic relevance, since it allows us to develop expertise for the future. We wanted this bike to be an emblem of our brand. For this reason it was done jointly between the Ducati R&D and the Race Department. I think it is the first time that the two teams work so closely. The design comes from the pencil of an expert designer, softened according to all the bike’s ergonomic and aerodynamic requirements, as well as the cooling system. The result is a beautiful, sensual, and technological bike. It is a concentrate of carbon fiber, high voltage batteries, high power, and complex digital circuits. The dashboard many secrets that we are proud of.

A new era in Ducati racing: the V21L MotoE race bike. (Ducati/)

What was the initial brief from Dorna?

We were asked to satisfy two main requirements: To design a bike lighter than 237 kilos, and to be able to complete a 7-lap race distance at maximum power. There were two options on the table: a heavier but more powerful bike, or a lighter bike with less power. We opted for the second, even if it is a little bit different from Ducati’s usual blueprint, which is characterized by a very powerful engine. In this case, we had to find the best compromise for the final result.

What was the main challenge?

The cooling system. This is a crucial aspect in an electric bike. The prototype components are in fact cooled by a particularly sophisticated and efficient liquid system with a double circuit designed to meet the different thermal needs of the battery pack and the motor/inverter unit. This guarantees the regularity of temperatures, a key factor for the consistency of performance especially in extreme conditions as in a race environment.

In MotoGP Ducati has pioneered technological solutions, like the winglets for example. What is unique about this bike?

The battery pack has been designed exclusively for this bike. You can understand it by having a look at the shape that perfectly fits inside the fairings, which remained untouched. To be clear, the fairings were our limits. We started by drawing the battery pack, having in mind the space available once the internal combustion engine and fuel tank are taken out from a current bike. We took all this space with the battery, as you can see from the tailor-made shape of the battery pack, and then we put all the other components around it.

What is the final result?

The Ducati MotoE has a total weight of 225 kg (496 lbs) and can count on maximum power and torque figures of 110 kW (150 hp) and 140 (103 lb-ft) Nm respectively, which allowed it to reach a speed of 275 km/h (171 mph) at Mugello Circuit. The battery pack weighs 110 kg (243 lbs) and offers a capacity of 18 kWh with a 20-kW charging socket integrated into the tail. Inside there are 1,152 cylindrical cells of the “21700″ type. These numbers give an idea of the incredible job that was done.

Over 1100 battery cells reside in the V21L’s carbon fiber battery pack. (Ducati/)

Looking at this prototype, what feeling does it inspire for Ducati?

Both enthusiasm and responsibility, because this is Ducati’s first electric motorcycle. We feel the expectation of all fans to have a product that reflects the brand.

You tested the MotoE for the first time at Mugello in May. What was your experience?

Testing the bike at Mugello was incredible. It’s amazing how easy it is to ride. You jump on it, and everything seems normal. The connection with the throttle is direct; you immediately feel  the behavior of the rear tire. In this respect, electric is an advantage. The bike is ergonomic, so the “tank” is now a place to lean on the turns according to the modern way of riding.

Domenicali says the V21L feels “normal.” (Ducati/)

The bike has super smooth acceleration out of the corners, and the relationship between right wrist rotation and torque is very easy and linear. Braking is fantastic and handling on the chicane is better than I expected. The MotoE has been made as light as possible considering the currently available technologies.  Even though the weight compared to the Panigale is higher and the rider has to anticipate the change of direction sooner, the reactions and responses are still impressively easy and smooth.

March 23, 2023 is the first race. How is development going?

We are at 50 percent, maybe a little more. The prototype verification phase is completed and we are in the normal phase of set-up, reliability checks, the temperature in operating conditions. At Mugello, for example, we tried in the heat and the results were very good.

What is the limit of the bike?

At this moment, I would say the technology of the batteries. In fact we have already planned to update the bike in two years.

From the track to the road. When will we see the first production bike?

Our goal is to build a production bike derived from this technology as soon as the batteries will allow us to offer a product that has the performance, the weight, and the range adequate to the minimum standards we’ve defined. Battery technology is constantly evolving, which will increase the energy density. We want to offer a Ducati that we can be truly proud of.

 

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