Ducati electric bike with solid-state battery accelerates to 273 km/h

Ducati has unveiled a prototype of its V21L electric sports motorcycle. One of its key features is the use of a solid-state battery. This is the first time that Volkswagen AG's new battery technology has been tested on a motorcycle rather than a car.

The V21L is already known as one of the fastest electric bikes. It has 150 horsepower and a top speed of 273 km/h. It is now equipped with a 980-cell QuantumScape QSE-5 unit with a lithium metal anode and ceramic separator. The energy density is 844 Wh per liter, and charging from 10 to 80% takes just over 12 minutes.

Compared to the previous 18 kWh battery consisting of 1,152 cylindrical 21700 cells, the new system is more compact, lighter, and faster. In addition to Ducati, Audi and PowerCo, companies from Volkswagen AG, are involved in the project.

On the track, a motorcycle with a solid-state battery will be able to deliver better results thanks to stable power output, lower weight, and faster recharging in the pits. Mass production of such batteries is expected in 4-5 years at the earliest.