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Ducati Motoe Bike Takes To The Track For The First Time On The Misano Circuit

Discussion in 'Front Page Articles' started by El Toro, Dec 20, 2021.

  1. The Ducati MotoE bike took to the track for the first time at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, right where the agreement with Dorna Sports was announced in October. In fact, starting from the 2023 season, the Borgo Panigale motorcycle manufacturer will be the sole supplier of motorcycles for the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup, the electric class of the MotoGP™ World Championship.

    The electric motorcycle prototype, code-named "V21L", is the result of the joint work of the Ducati Corse team and the Ducati R&D engineers, led by Roberto Canè, Ducati eMobility Director, and was taken out on track by Michele Pirro, professional rider and Ducati test rider since 2013, who evaluated the technical characteristics and potential of Ducati’s first electric motorcycle.

    Roberto Canè, Ducati eMobility Director: “We are experiencing a truly extraordinary moment. I find it hard to believe it is reality and still not a dream! The first electric Ducati on the track is exceptional not only for its uniqueness but also for the type of undertaking: challenging both for its performance objectives and for its extremely short timescales. Precisely for this reason, the work of the whole team dedicated to the project has been incredible and today's result repays us for the efforts made in recent months. We are certainly not finished yet; indeed, we know that the road ahead is still very long, but in the meantime, we have laid a first important 'brick'."

    Michele Pirro, Ducati test rider: "Testing the MotoE prototype on the circuit was a great thrill, because it marks the beginning of an important chapter in Ducati history. The bike is light and already has a good balance. Furthermore, the throttle connection in the first opening phase and the ergonomics are very similar to those of a MotoGP bike. If it weren't for the silence and for the fact that in this test, we decided to limit the power output to just 70% of performance, I could easily have imagined that I was riding my bike.”

    The most important challenges in the development of an electric racing motorcycle remain related to the size, weight and range of the batteries. Ducati's goal is to make electric motorcycles that are high-performance and characterized by their lightness available to all FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup participants. The focus of the project are, in addition to better performance, the containment of weight and the consistency of power delivery during the race, obtained thanks to the attention in the development of a cooling system suitable for the objective.

    Ducati's experience in the FIM Enel MotoE™ World Cup will be a fundamental support for product R&D. The goal is to create, as soon as the technology allows it, a Ducati electric vehicle for road use that is sporty, light, exciting and able to satisfy all enthusiasts
     
  2. I’m no fan of the so-called electric revolution that’s sweeping the motor trade at the moment. I’m just not convinced it’s the answer, but what is for sure is that manufacturers who can produce them right now will put themselves in a strong position going forward, so what are Ducati doing? Next years MotoE is all Ducati, those bikes look good, so why aren’t they knocking our door down with advertising for what’s to come?
    At the moment this seems like a foolish delay imo
     
    #2 Symon Moore, Dec 20, 2021
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2021
  3. I am so grateful I have lived my life in the petrol era.

    The electric era seems very dull by comparison.

    An electric Ducati will, I am sure, be fast, but no sound, smell and boiled undercarriage.....?
     
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  4. It’s stunning. It’s the best stab at ‘the future’ that I’ve seen for sure
     
  5. My problem is I can't ever read Motoe as Moto-E, how they want us to, but instead always read it as Mo-Toe, which somehow removes all the hi-tech seriousness and credibility of the word.
     
  6. Good point.

    Sparky-warky-pew-pew bikes has a better ring to it, I feel.
     
  7. I kinda think that when im with my lad at motocross and he is on his 125 2stroke.
    It just aint going to sound the same is it.
     
  8. Ducati aren't actually taking over supply of MotoE bikes until the 2023 season, so I'd expect they are holding off marketing etc until then. Even then, I'd expect them to run in the competition a couple of years before launching a serious electric road bike - it's a long term game. I'm interested to see what they come up with.
     
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  9. You’re right to an extent but with a short break, I’ve worked in Tech all my life & history shows time & time again that being first to market is a game changer. Sony Walkman, Apple iPod, Tesla & so on aren’t actually any better in real terms than the current competitors but they are all or were in that time, standout market leaders & that can be so valuable. The iPod saved Apple for instance.
    My point is that is that if Ducati started the marketing campaigns now, clever marketing and teasers could create a buzz around the brand & give them a lead in the premium sports bike market when they are ready to launch.
    I would bet that within a year, we’ll have manufacturers doing this & if I was Ducati, I’d already be building those campaigns.
     
  10. Maybe the EBike will come with a smell generator?
    Stop at lights after riding for 30 minutes in 20C ambient and the seat puffs out the smell of burnt leather & nads:upyeah:
    Sorted.
     
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  11. What it needs is a separate system on the bike to generate noise and smell to make us feel at home.
    And wouldn't it be good if that system could also power the bike when it runs out of charge.
    I'm assuming the back up system will require some sort of fuel, but there must be space for a tank somewhere.
    Actually the noisy smelly system might prove more popular, so an option with just the noisy smelly system would be great.

    Oh................
     
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  12. Looks good, but why the front radiator?

    594E3C2E-6A80-4377-BEF6-293FE4D27E36.jpeg
     
  13. They all have radiators, to cool the inverters/ECU's etc as they get hot!
     
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  14. What !... No SSSA. That's Heresy
     
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  15. ...and the motors need cooling as well. Working on very high power-density electric motor & power electronics cooling atm and it's a serious business!
     
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