MotoE | The veils have been removed from the new full electric Ducati

MotoE – The electric championship, now in its fourth edition, is ready for a great revolution. In fact, from 2023, the scepter for the supply of motorcycles will pass from Energica to Ducati which has built a completely new motorcycle for the occasion.

The MotoE project has strategic relevance for Ducati as it allows it to develop skills for its future while maintaining the approach that has always fueled the DNA of the Borgo Panigale company: experimenting with technological solutions in the world of competitions and working to ensure that everything that is developed in this context it can then land on motorcycles intended for Ducatisti enthusiasts all over the world.

To create the MotoE prototype, the Borgo Panigale motorcycle company put together a team that brings together designers from Ducati and Ducati Corse, creating a truly extraordinary mix of skills. The creation of the motorbike followed the procedure that is usually adopted on production motorbikes, triggering close collaboration between team members which led to new ways of thinking and designing, encouraged by such a technologically challenging project.

The Ducati MotoE has a total weight of 225 kg (12 kg less than the minimum requirements imposed by Dorna and FIM for a motorcycle capable of completing the race distance) and has maximum power and torque values ​​of 110 kW respectively ( 150 HP) and 140 Nm, which on a circuit like Mugello allowed it to reach a speed of 275 km/h.

The battery pack, the most restrictive element in terms of mass and size, on the Ducati MotoE is characterized by a shape specifically designed to follow the natural flow of the central area of ​​the motorbike. The battery pack weighs 110 kg 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.

The inverter, weighing just 5 kg, is a unit derived from a high-performance model used in motor racing for electric vehicles, while the engine (21 kg in weight and a maximum rotation speed of 18.000 rpm) has been developed by a partner following the technical specifications provided by Ducati. The entire system is based on a voltage of 800V (with the battery pack fully charged) to maximize the efficiency of the electric powertrain and, consequently, performance and autonomy.

The components of the prototype are in fact cooled by a particularly sophisticated and efficient liquid system with a double circuit designed to respond to the different thermal needs of the battery pack and the motor/inverter group. This guarantees extreme regularity of temperatures with important benefits in terms of consistency of performance but also of charging times. In fact, it is not necessary to wait for the battery pack to cool down to be able to start the process: the Ducati MotoE can be charged almost at the same time as it enters the garage and approximately 80 minutes are needed to recharge it up to 45% of its autonomy.

Statements Claudio Domenicali CEO Ducati

“A few weeks ago I had the extraordinary opportunity to ride the Ducati MotoE on the track and I immediately realized that I was experiencing a historic moment. The world is going through a complex period and environmental sustainability is something that all individuals and companies must consider a priority if they want to preserve the delicate balance of the planet. As Ducati we grasped this need and went in search of a challenge that would allow us to contribute to the common objective of reducing CO2 emissions and at the same time remain faithful to our racing DNA. We determinedly agreed to develop the most high-performance electric racing motorcycle that current technology makes possible and to use this project as a laboratory in which to build our future. The result we have achieved is surprising. As soon as I sat on the bike I realized the quality of the work done by the team and the moment I returned to the garage I felt a great sense of pride for what we were once again able to create."