How Ducati is gearing up for the electric era

“I don't think that many would have expected Ducati, having been so successful with internal combustion engines, to embark on such a big project,” says Cazzoli. 

“Why did we do it? Because it's clear that the trend for the future is going to be electric and importantly, we can use the racing to transfer technology into road bikes that are ridden on a daily basis. 

“Investing in technology for electric motorcycles will help us to increase our knowledge and know-how and MotoE will support that.”

Ducati’s support from Volkswagen GroupShifting from internal combustion to electric powertrains can be a daunting task at best, but as Cazzoli emphasised, being part of a wider group of brands had offered a greater level of support in its electrification plans so far. 

“There is no doubt that being part of such a big automotive group has given us an enormous advantage and a more competitive position,” says Cazzoli.

“You can see with the MotoE project and in our current models that we are using rubber technology in our motorbikes for the first time, becoming one of the first brands to adopt this.”

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The potential of hydrogen and biofuelsAlthough electrification appears to be the solution for future motorcycles, Cazzoli welcomed the idea of hydrogen, adding that other alternatives to petrol such as biofuels could be an option.

“We have to be open minded and look at the future situation because there may be a better solution than just electric power,” says Cazzoli. 

“This is a complex issue because we don’t know which powertrain system will be the best in the future. There is significant investment at university and institutional level studying different technologies which cannot be ignored. 

“We need to have an understanding of all possibilities because right now an electric powertrain is not the solution for use just yet, but the moment will come in the near future.”

Cazzoli, when pressed on using specific powertrains for different segments, highlighted that this was a further element to consider, adding that an electric powertrain may have a better use-case for smaller machines. 

“An electric powertrain for a scooter makes quite a lot of sense because users are typically riding around a city, but if you’re thinking about a (Ducati) Multistrada, a long-distance cruiser, an electric powertrain wouldn’t work.

“You don’t want to ride for 100 miles then have to stop and charge for two-three hours; that would not be a clever way of producing an electric motorbike. 

“We have to be open, we have to look at the landscape and come up with a viable proposition that is also affordable as well.”

A different approach to mobilityDucati is clearly not willing to rush into the electric era, remaining cautious in its quest to offer an electric motorbike. And although an electric Ducati motorbike is still some way off, the firm has widened its horizons through e-scooters and e-bikes.

It is worth noting that Ducati’s e-scooters are branded, licensed products manufactured by Super Soco, but as Cazzoli explained, the need for Ducati to adapt to changes in transportation. 

“We are living in a world where mobility can be done using a combination of tools, and in relation to e-scooters and e-bikes, Ducati has adapted to the needs of the population,” says the Ducati UK boss. 

“The e-bikes are a perfect example of this because they completely fulfil the philosophy and values of Ducati. We also recently extended into road e-bikes with the Futa, which is a fantastic product.”

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Looking ahead to the futureTaking into account Ducati’s MotoE project and its experimental V21L electric motorbike, it would be wrong to suggest that the fabled Italian outfit is shying away from electrification; far from it in fact.