In the modern age of motorsport, we’ve seen a number of initiatives toward sustainability and eco-friendly racing. The most notable example of this is the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, which has become massively popular, with an ever-growing worldwide fanbase. Less prominently, another electric vehicle series for two-wheeled racing existed: MotoE. However, after seven seasons, the FIM and Dorna Sports announced in 2025 that the FIM MotoE World Championship would go on an indefinite hiatus, citing numerous issues with the electric motorcycle market and lack of fan interest. So, what happened for MotoE to get to this point with no return in sight? We deep-dive into the series’ inception and explain the reasons behind the decision to put MotoE on hold.
The Beginnings of MotoE
The FIM MotoE World Championship was like most electric performance vehicle racing series. That mission was to promote EV technology and serve as the testing ground for the future of electric street motorcycles. The hope was that MotoE would help close the significant gap between traditional combustion engines and the EV market. In doing so, it would promote the sustainability of these vehicles. This was the future of zero-emission racing, with the goal of implementing these innovations in other two-wheeled series, such as MotoGP.
For most of its run, MotoE used the Energica Ego Corsa exclusively, manufactured by Energica Motor Company. The machine had the same power as Moto2 bikes (approximately 110 kW). It also had more torque than any other combustion engine at the time. Not only that, but the bikes were compatible with the international Combined Charging System (CCS) via DC Fast Charge Stations and AC chargers. However, the bike was manufactured by Ducati at the Borgo Panigale factory from 2023.
The series got off to a rocky start in its inaugural season in 2019. It was originally scheduled to start in May of that year. However, the series was postponed after a fire broke out during testing in Jerez, destroying all the bikes. Its second season did not start any better, delaying the start again, but this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically, the season ran over six or seven rounds, with the longest being eight rounds and sixteen races in 2024. Similar to Formula E, each round consisted of two-race weekends.
Accomplishments Over Seven Seasons
While there were many shortcomings, MotoE catapulted now well-known names in two-wheeled racing and gained noteworthy achievements. Over its seven seasons, the series crowned six world champions, with Jordi Torres winning twice. Matteo Ferrari was the longest-serving rider of MotoE. He competed in the series from its inception to the last race in 2025 (78 races in total). The rider raced alongside some other big names, including Sete Gibernau, Bradley Smith, Lorenzo Savadori, and Fermín Aldeguer. Those last two riders used MotoE as the springboard on the road to MotoGP, with Aldeguer only just completing his rookie season in 2025.
Let’s not forget the basis of MotoE: the development of electric motorcycle technology. Over the years, the weight of the bikes reduced substantially with the implementation of lighter rims and aluminium frames. Suspension components were fine-tuned to significantly improve handling by adding an adjustable swingarm pin to the chassis. Lastly, with the partnership between Ducati and reputable companies such as the Volkswagen Group, Audi, and PowerCo, more research has been invested in the ongoing testing and development of next-generation solid-state batteries.
For fans who actively tuned in every round, the series did not disappoint, offering much closer racing and action. The average gap between first and second during 2025 was less than half a second, whereas the average for MotoGP was over three seconds. This competitive racing produced close finishes and multiple riders in contention for championships. But just because a motorsport series delivers quality racing and action doesn’t always translate into success or viewer numbers.
Where Did MotoE Fall Short?
On September 11, 2025, FIM President Jorge Viegas and the CEO of MotoGP for Dorna Sports, Carmelo Ezpeleta, put out joint statements about their decision to park MotoE indefinitely. Plain and simple, MotoE never gained enough support or viewership to sustain itself. Viegas specifically highlighted this in his comments:
“In fact, and despite all the best efforts to promote this innovative category together with Dorna, the truth is that we haven’t reached our objectives, nor has the industry associated with performance electric bikes.”
The fact that the series faced several unfortunate setbacks and delays in the earlier seasons also impacted its success. Not to mention the significantly higher turnover of riders in the series, despite the big names and longevity of some since its inception. That makes it hard for fans to support the riders if they keep changing. Younger riders are also taking other paths on their journey to reach their dream of competing in the top series.
Furthermore, the overall motorcycle industry has since prioritised switching to synthetic and non-fossil fuels amid falling demand for electric motorcycles. From 2027, it’s proposed that MotoGP will run on 100% non-fossil fuel under the Racing for the Future initiative. From a logistical standpoint, trying to jam the series into weekends that were already too full of MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3 events was also not viable. With this new direction and the complications, there is no real space left for competitive electric bike racing or MotoE.
The Final Race
Going into the final round of 2025 and the series overall in Portimão, there was a seven-rider fight for the championship title. Over two races, Alessandro Zaccone battled it out in Race 1 with Eric Granado and Jacopo Hosciuc to win and clinch a 17-point advantage going into the second race day of the weekend.
It was a much easier day for Zaccone to seal the championship title, only having to finish no lower than seventh place. The #61 ended the final race of the series in fourth, with Mattia Casadei, Oscar Gutierrez, and Nicholas Spinelli finishing on the podium in a thrilling last lap. It was an emotional farewell to the sport as Zaccone celebrated his 2025 FIM MotoE World Championship with his Aruba Cloud MotoE teammates. If the series does not return, the Italian rider will stand as the last championship winner.
The Future of MotoE
On November 17, 2025, a week or so after the completion of the final race in Portugal, MotoE came to a close and went on hiatus. The series’ social media posted a message of gratitude and farewells to the fans, riders, teams, and partners who have supported MotoE along the way.
At the time of writing, there have been no updates or announcements about the future of MotoE. With the FIM and Dorna Sports constantly monitoring the electric motorcycle industry and Ducati continuing research and development on their V21L prototype, there is a slim possibility that the FIM MotoE World Championship may resume.
However, without a series dedicated to showcasing these initiatives in performance electric motorcycle racing, fans, future partners, and sponsors will not see these advancements beyond the Racing for the Future initiative in MotoGP. For now, we can only look back on the teams’ efforts and the rider action that took place over the seven seasons of MotoE.