Ducati has started testing its new all-electric race bike that will be the spec offering for MotoE from next season. This is the first electric machine from the Italian company which currently competes very strongly in MotoGP. Called the ‘V21L’ it is seen as an important development step towards future Ducati electric road bikes.
The propulsion motor is of the permanent magnet type and, running to 18,000 rpm it weighs 21kg and produces 140Nm. In addition to the usual chain and sprocket reduction there is further reduction by a single-stage gearing of fixed ratio. The inverter unit is derived from an existing Formula E unit and weighs only 5kg. It is mounted directly below the rider’s seat.
The complete bike weighs 225 kg, which is 37kg less than its MotoE predecessor. Aiding this the battery is a fully stressed structural member. The front and rear of the bike attaches to the powertrain, of which the main stressed member is the battery casing. That casing is made of carbon fibre composite; the aluminium front frame (to which the front suspension is attached) and rear aluminium swingarm attach directly and weigh 3.7 kg and 4.8 kg respectively. The seat unit is also attached to the battery case and is made of carbon fibre.
The lithium ion-type battery of the Ducati V21E weighs 110 kg and has 110 kW available. It is comprised of 1,152 cylindrical cells of 21700 type (21mm diameter, 70mm long). Those cells have been arranged to provide 800V. It can be recharged in less than 90 minutes using a 20 kW charging socket which is integrated into the seat unit. The bike has a dual-circuit liquid cooling system, separating the battery from the motor and inverter since they have different temperature requirements.
