Since its inception, Ducati has always made game-changing motorcycles, pushing the boundaries of speed and technology. So when the Panigale-maker announced it would jump aboard the electric bandwagon and start producing bikes for the MotoE championship, the hopes were higher than ever. After all, if there was anyone who could hit the ball out of the park in the EV space, it’d be Ducati. However, now that the Italian giant has given us an insight into its electric racer (officially called the V21L), we can’t help but feel a bit dejected.
Ducati V21L Electric Bike Specs Revealed
Why, you ask? Well, post its MotoE project announcement, we could almost guarantee that the Italian bikemaker would move the flag post past the 200 horsepower mark and even the 300kmph mark. However, instead, the electric Ducati belts out 150 horsepower and 140Nm while promising a top speed of 275kmph (achieved at Mugello). Now, this is in no way “slow”, but these specs are quite comparable to the current MotoE bikes which make 147 horsepower and manage 260kmph, thus not as big a step up as we’d expected.
Apart from this, though, we’re happy to report that Ducati has hit the ground running and the bike left us spell-bound everywhere else. To start off, the V21L has a monocoque chassis and, just like the Panigale V4, uses its powerhouse as a stressed member. There’s a huge 18kWh battery pack powering the motorcycle that sits in a carbon fiber case and weighs 110kg. Accompanying this is a 20kWh charging socket (mounted behind the seat) which charges the bike to 80 percent in just 45 minutes besides a one-of-a-kind dual-cooling system that redirects air to both the battery and motor separately.
Like the battery case, the race bike uses carbon fiber explicitly in places such as the fairings, swingarm, subframe, and wheels, all of which help it tip the scale at 225kg. While this might seem a bit much by race bike standards, it is a commendable 12kg less than FIM’s requirements.
Impressed? Well, there’s more. As you’d expect, the suspension setup is the best of the best, boasting 43mm Ohlins NPX forks (borrowed from the Panigale Superleggera V4) and an Ohlins TTX36 monoshock. Topping these are equally impressive anchors with 338mm disc brakes and two Brembo GP4RR calipers alongside a 220mm rear disc also with a Brembo caliper. Ducati will also allow teams to shift the rear brake lever near the handlebar, in case of rider preference.
Finally, Ducati also used all its MotoGP-based electronic prowess to equip the V21L with an array of rider aids. This includes traction control, wheelie control, launch control, throttle maps, slide control, and the list goes on. As a result of all this, everyone who’s ridden the V21L so far (names like Michele Pirro, Alex De Angelis, and Chaz Davies) has all had brilliant things to say about it, with Pirro even saying it accelerates faster out of a corner than a MotoGP bike.
To wrap off, yes, we did feel a bit dejected after seeing the power figures, but judging from everything else and the trust we bestow on Ducati making epic track weapons, it’s safe to assume the V21L will set the MotoE record books straight.
Oh, and not to mention, once Ducati irons everything out, the Bologna giant will start working on an electric sportbike based on the V21L, something we’re already looking forward to.