Ducati MotoE V21L Prototype Specs Revealed: 7 Things You Need To Know
Ducati just announced the full details of their MotoE prototype and it looks pretty exciting, so here are 7 things that you need to know about it!
1. MOTOE
Firstly, why does it exist? Well MotoE is essentially an electric MotoGP series, and Energica currently supply the bikes. But from 2023 it’ll move over to Ducati who will provide all 18 bikes on the grid each weekend.
Unfortunately that means that you won’t be able to buy a V21L from your local Ducati dealer, but they do say that the "project has strategic relevance for Ducati since it makes it possible to develop expertise for the future" and that they are "experimenting with technological solutions in the world of racing and working to ensure that everything that is developed in this area can then transfer to motorcycles destined for enthusiastic Ducatisti from all over the world."
So basically they're using this project to fund a means of developing the knowledge to build electric Ducatis in the future.
2. PERFORMANCE
So let’s get stuck into the specs, and they look decent for an electric:
225kg total weight
110kw (150hp) peak power
140nm peak torque
Max speed of 275kmph (170mph) achieved at Mugello
I guess you could argue that compared to a petrol powered race bike it doesn’t sound that quick. Take Ducati’s MotoGP bike for example - it weighs in at 157kg dry, and makes over 250hp. Their WSBK Panigale v4r is 168kg (with coolant and oil but no fuel) and it makes about 235hp peak.
So there’s still a massive gulf between petrol and electric, but with it being a one-make series I suppose it doesn’t really matter. As long as they’re quick enough to provide some decent, entertaining racing then the specs don’t have to be top drawer or outdo the competition. And really we're still at the beginning of the electric journey so things can only improve from here.
3. BATTERY
A massive part of the weight of any electric bike is the battery and this one's no different, tipping the scales at 110kg. That's not far off double what their Desmo V4 engine weighs and basically accounts for half of the bike. As such they've had to design the bike around it, with them calling it "the most binding and characterising element in terms of masses and dimensions."
So they say they've given it a shape that lends itself to being at the centre of a motorcycle, and it's make up of 1,152 cylindrical cells for a capacity of 18kWh. That’s a little less than the Energicas that MotoE currently uses, but a little more than what you’d typically find in a sporty electric road bike.
There's a 20Kw charging socket integrated into the tail of the bike, with an inverter that's derived from those used in other forms of electric motorsport, whist the motor itself, weighing 21kg, was developed by a third party to Ducati's specs. The system runs on 800v with a fully charged battery pack, which they say allows them to maximise the output of the powertrain and optimise for both performance and range.
4. COOLING
A lot of thought has gone into cooling too, not only for performance but also charging times. They've developed a sophisticated liquid cooling system which has two circuits so that it can cool the different temperaturess of the battery and motor appropriately.
Cooling the battery like this means it can roll into the garage and be put on charge straight away without having to wait for it to cool down, and they say it'll take just 45 minutes to get to 80% of its range.
5. CHASSIS
The big battery not only powers the motor, but much like an engine in a petrol powered bike it's structural and acts as a stressed member. It's very much the same approach as their V4 road bikes or the new monster, with an aluminium monocoque Front Frame bolted to the battery that weighs just 3.7kg, and a swingarm bolted to the back that weighs in at 4.8kg. Up top there's a carbon subframe, and so really there’s nothing much to it without the battery.
6. SUSPENSION
The whole lot is suspended on top notch Ohlins suspension, with a 43mm NPX USD pressurised fork which is derived from their super exotic Superleggera V4. At the rear there’s a TTX36 shock, with both being fully adjustable, and there’s an Ohlins steering damper too.
7. BRAKING
Brakes are supplied by Brembo, and they say the system has been designed to Ducati's specs which are specific to the needs of MotoE, so I assume built to cope with the extra demands of that 225kg weight. At the front there's a pair of big 338mm steel discs, with an increased thickness and fins on the internal diameter which should help with cooling. A pair of their racing specific GP4RR callipers are also used with a PR19 front master cylinder, and then at the rear there's a P34 calliper on a 220mm disc with a PS13 master cylinder. And there's also an option for teams to use a thumb brake lever if they so wish.
Overall it looks pretty impressive to me, but we’ll have to reserve judgement til we see them out on the track next year. And hopefully it’s not too long after that until we see something similar trickle down to their road range!
