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Ducati V21L: The Game-Changer in FIM Enel MotoE World Championship
In its debut year as the exclusive provider for FIM Enel MotoE World Championship, Ducati achieved considerable success. Their Bologna-based crew developed, produced, and launched 18 superior motorcycles in under two years since the first circuit laps of the V21L prototype.
The fierce competition culminated in a thrilling championship, with Mattia Casadei emerging as the inaugural MotoE world champion in the final round held in Misano. Hailing from a collaboration between Ducati’s R&D unit and Ducati Corse, the V21L is a distinctive electric motorcycle with unprecedented technical systems in its battery pack, motor, and inverter.
Ducati's MotoE is the electric variant of MotoGP, which has received acclamation from world championship riders for its commendable performance and riding dynamics ever since its initial tests conducted on the Jerez circuit last March. The V21L prototype weighs 225 kg, maintaining a weight distribution of 54% and 46% on the front and back, respectively, and a wheelbase of 1,471 mm.
It produces maximum power and torque of 110 kW (147.5bhp) and 140Nm, respectively. The V21L's battery pack is a unique entity in the electric motorbike arena owing to its technical systems and performance. Weighing 110 kg, it is constituted of 1,152 cylindrical 21700-type battery cells packed in a carbon fibre case - the most efficient cells available when the MotoE project kicked off.
Their compact dimensions allowed Ducati's technical team to tailor a battery pack with cells spaced uniformly to occupy all the vacant space within the bike, an unmatched solution. Enhancing the uniqueness of the V21L battery is its liquid cooling mechanism, which sustains optimal temperatures in each cell and facilitates immediate recharge after each ride while ensuring consistent performance from the first lap till the last.
The MotoE World Championship was highly competitive due to the V21L prototype's superior performance and reliability. Among the 18 riders who participated, eight achieved victory in at least one race, with more than half mounting the podium at least once. Four riders were still contending for the world title till the concluding round.
Each race saw the V21L breaking previous lap times and establishing new lap records, often besting them by up to three seconds. Most tracks also witnessed the V21L setting new records for the Moto3 category, with all the riders beating the French Grand Prix's existing record.
Also, the Ducati V21L starred in the 2023 IAA MOBILITY show held in Munich, donned in a special livery that borrowed inspiration from the racing heritage of the Bologna-based motorcycle manufacturer. Its fresh look in Ducati Red, combined with the white number plates, gold accents, and black exposed carbon fibre, was conceptualized by the Centro Stile Ducati and Aldo Drudi specifically for the event.
The V21L project by Ducati concretized into 23 exclusive Ducati motorcycles, 18 of which were delivered to the teams, and the remaining five served as back-up in the Ducati garage. The project engaged 35 Ducati members with an average age of 33 years, combining experience and youthful vigor. This was matched with 1080 recharges, utilization of 26,496 battery cells in total, and a massive 1.4 MWh of regenerated energy during braking.
In terms of coverage, a staggering 38,500 kilometres were covered overall, and 471 laps of the track were completed. The bikes achieved a remarkable top speed of 282 km/h recorded during the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello on 10th June 2023. Furthermore, the V21L's 0-100 km/h acceleration value averaged at a swift 2.5 seconds.
There was a distinct improvement in performance, as the average lap times saw a 2.2-second enhancement as compared to the previous season. An average gap of 3.04 seconds separated the top-5, with Catalunya GP, race 2 demonstrating the minimum average gap at 0.49 seconds.
In terms of competition, the championship was closely contested. An average gap of 0.43 seconds separated the winner and the second-best, with the minimum being a hair-raising 0.021 seconds at the San Marino Grand Prix during the first race. Ten different riders made it to the podium, and eight different riders won, out of the total 18 participants, epitomizing the evenly balanced championship.
Of the nine teams that participated, seven made it to the podium, and five clinched at least one race win, testament to the high standard of all competitors. The largest comeback by a rider was from 10 positions behind at the Austrian Grand Prix, race 1, exemplifying the intense and vibrant spectacle of the championship.
The 2023 MotoE World Championship proved to be a stellar demonstration of the strides electric mobility, and in particular, Ducati with its "V21L" project, has made. While fostering a sustainable future with the regenerated braking mechanism, the Championship offered a level playing field showcasing a fair competition with tightly contested races and a wide range of winners. The numbers outlined above speak volumes about the incredible performances on display, the skill of the Ducati team and, ultimately, the viability of electric mobility as we propel towards a greener future.]
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The Ducati MotoE will soon undergo further development and testing to enhance this intriguing and grand project's prowess ahead of the world championship season. Their investment in pioneering technologies continues as they accumulate more knowledge and expertise needed to create a sporty, lightweight, thrilling Ducati electric sports bike that caters to all Ducati brand's fans from Borgo Panigale.
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