Ducati is waiting for better battery tech before it branches out into electric motorcycles, CEOClaudio Domenicali said toMOTO.IT.
Domenicali explained that lithium-ion batteries may have significantly evolved over the years, but they’re still not advanced enough to store enough energy, while simultaneously keeping the current weight of the bike. He also hinted at the prospect of solid state batteries as a possible solution.
This announcement confirms Ducati’s VP of SalesFrancesco Milicia’s earlier statementthat the company won’t produce an electric motorcycle anytime soon, as it “cannot guarantee the pleasure, the range, the weight etc. that Ducati riders expect.”
These concerns about battery energy and performance seem rather weak, given that fellow motorcycle makers have already rolled out impressive electric models using the current lithium-ion battery technology.
Calling all Scaleup founders! Join the Soonicorn Summit on November 28 in Amsterdam.
Meet with the leaders of Picnic, Miro, Carbon Equity and more during this exclusive event dedicated to Scaleup Founders!
For instance, Italian sport bike maker Energica produces various versions of its Energica Egowith city ranges of 400km and mixed ranges of 230km, thanks to a high capacity 21.5 kWh battery pack.
In fact, even though the Energica Ego is 20% heavier than a Ducati, it still beats down the Paginale model with a 2.6-second0-60 mphacceleration, compared to 2.9 respectively.
Similarly, Triumph is developing its TE-1 electric motorcycle featuring a battery capacity of 15 kWh with a range of approximately 200km, while Zero Motors has introduced itsZ-Force power tank which upgrades its current models to 18 kWh of battery capacity with 259km city range, and 180km on a highway.
So why Ducati would go back on its 2019 promise for an electric future remains very much unclear.
HT –Electrek
Do EVs excite your electrons? Do ebikes get your wheels spinning? Do self-driving cars get you all charged up?
Then you need the weekly SHIFT newsletter in your life.Click here to sign up.
Story byIoanna Lykiardopoulou
Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainabili(show all)Ioanna is a writer at TNW. She covers the full spectrum of the European tech ecosystem, with a particular interest in startups, sustainability, green tech, AI, and EU policy. With a background in the humanities, she has a soft spot for social impact-enabling technologies.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.
