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[Moto7575]

See here

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/sh2w1lfVibg/ducati-backs-away-from-electric-motorcycle-production-plans-104508272.html

[Fran K]

Too heavy to get the range the way I read it.

They have a different  market niche now than when they had the 350 Sebring single years ago.

[Crissa]

Synthetic fuels are a non-starter for motorcycles.

Think charging stations are few and far between?

Ducati has signed its death warrant.

-Crissa

[umrath]

I'm fully with Crissa here.
Synfuels are a dead end and lead nowhere.

Yes, they might be an option for long range airplanes or other niche markets. But in the mass mobility sector they will not stand a chance.

[Moto7575]

Too bad no real motorcycle brand bought Brammo some years ago...

[princec]

Ducati sound like they're about to become history then... moving to efuels won't save them, because efuels will still be illegal in most of the EU in 10 years: the zero emissions figure mandated is from the vehicle. Efuels overall is a hopeless venture and utterly misses the point of why EVs are such a good solution. What I don't get is why VW are bothering, especially after their recent track record and stated future direction.

Cas

[flynnstig82r]

From the article, it doesn't sound like Ducati is investing any money into e-fuels, only that the interviewee hoped to take advantage of investments made by other members of the VW group like Porsche. It sounded like pure speculation on his part.

Of the two topics covered, the only one that directly concerned Ducati's strategy was them not planning to release an electric model anytime soon, which is frankly the right strategy for them IMO. As much as I love them, electrics won't be able to satisfy Ducati's customers for ~5 years, maybe closer to 10 at a comparable purchase price. When Energica decides to invest the resources into releasing a proper sport-tourer, that will be the canary in the coal mine that it's almost time for the mainstream gas manufacturers to jump in with both feet. But right now if they released such a machine, it would only have ~110 mile highway range with much longer refuels than gas bikes, wouldn't be able to match the refinement and gadgets of a Multistrada, would weigh 150-200 lbs more, and would cost an extra 10 grand. There's a reason that almost all of the electrics released so far have been designed as sub-100 mile naked bikes. Until that changes, it's a sign that the electric takeover isn't ready yet.

[Richard230]

I am still keeping my eye on the major Japanese manufacturers and am not seeing much of anything coming down their mass production line. Until they decide to jump into the mainstream electric motorcycle market, I figure that there likely isn't enough of a potential market to interest them financially. And it doesn't look like they are under nearly as much political pressure to market EVs as vehicle manufacturers are in the EU and China.

[Crissa]

If you're not ready for the batteries, then it won't matter.  They'll be so far behind.

And princec's point is a good one:  Even if you could find the synthfuels, many towns won't llet you burn them.

-Crissa

[flynnstig82r]

Japan is a tough use case for EVs. Something like half their population lives in apartments with no garages. It’s why they’ve been pushing for hydrogen FC infrastructure instead of electric charging for cars. The Japanese moto makers will likely release small bikes and scooters soon with batteries that can be swapped at kiosks like the Gogoro ones in Taiwan, but proper motorcycles to compete with the Zero’s of the world could be a long time coming. I’d almost expect to see a big, long range electric from Ducati or Aprilia before seeing one from the Japanese Big Four.

To Crissa’s point, Ducati is part of the VW group which is heavily invested in battery tech so they’ll be able to piggyback on that investment. As long as they keep prototyping and staying up on the motors and design, they can bring the latest and greatest in battery tech to market whenever they decide the time is right.

[Crissa]

Yeah, but it sounded like they were axing the prototyping.

-Crissa