If it seems like the 2023 MotoE championship is just around the corner, that’s because it is. It’s January 17, 2023, as I write this, and fans of the series will be pleased to note that production of Ducati’s V21L prototype electric bikes began in earnest in December, 2022. In total, the team from Bologna will craft just 23 of these machines. 18 will line up on the grid, and five more will be available as spares, to be used if needed. All of these bikes should be ready to ride by mid-February, 2023.
Back in June, 2022, we had our first serious look at the V21L prototype, including specs. Peak power is a claimed 110 kilowatts, or the equivalent of approximately 150 horsepower. Claimed torque is 103 pound-feet. What about the weight? As you’d probably expect from an electric bike of its class in 2023, the weight is certainly not inconsiderable, tipping the scales at 225 kilograms (or just over 496 pounds). Just about half that weight is all battery, incidentally—the 18 kilowatt-hour, swingarm-connected unit weighs 242.5 pounds on its own.
