A few months ago, Ducati released a video of the V21L, showcasing its abilities on the track for the first time, and now it has finally revealed its technical details. The V21L MotoE prototype is Ducati’s entry into the world of electrification, and learnings from the V21L will be incorporated into future offerings, although a production-spec electric Ducati motorcycle still seems further away.
Ducati V21L MotoE prototype Power, Performance and Battery
The V21L’s electric motor puts out 147bhp and 140Nm of torque, making it capable enough to reach a top speed of 275kmph. This makes the V21L faster than the current MotoE motorcycle, the Energica Ego Corsa by 5kmph. With a kerb weight of 225kg, the V21L is also lighter than the Energica, which weighs 247kg. However, Ducati hasn’t mentioned how much time it takes to reach triple figures.
The V21L is also backed by an 18kWh battery pack, and while Ducati hasn’t mentioned the exact range, it says a 0-80 per cent charge takes up to 45 minutes. It also says the bike does not need to cool down to begin the charging process thanks to a liquid-cooling system with a dual circuit.
Ducati V21L MotoE prototype Design and Bodywork
The Ducati V21L bears a passing resemblance to the Panigale V4, featuring a sleek, sharp profile. The V21L gets carbonfibre bodywork which hides away a lot of components such as the 110kg battery pack, which acts as a stressed member of the chassis. The carbonfibre bodywork also makes use of red inserts to make it recognizable as a Ducati. It gets a 20kW charging port integrated into the tail section.
Ducati V21L Chassis, Braking and Suspension
The Ducati V21L makes use of a aluminium monocoque frame at the front and an aluminium swingarm at the rear, each weighing 3.7kg and 4.8kg respectively. This setup is suspended via 43mm Ohlins NPX 25/30 USD forks at the front which have been derived from the Superleggera V4, and a TTX36 monoshock at the rear. To bring the V21L to a halt, it gets 338.5mm Brembo twin discs with two GP4RR M4 32/36 calipers at the front, and a single 220mm disc with a P34 caliper at the rear. Ducati will also give an optional rear brake lever on the handlebar for racers to make use of instead of the right-side pedal.
With this, Ducati is all set to take over from Energica as the sole manufacturer of FIM MotoE bikes from 2023 onwards. It also joins the list of a handful of renowned bikemakers stepping into the world of electrification, and its next objective seems to be building a lightweight, sporty electric motorcycle, which could take some years to become a reality. Interesting times ahead for motorcycle lovers!