Ex-Tesla engineers build 'Featherweight' EV that weighs just 1973 pounds

British startup Longbow, founded by former Tesla engineers Daniel Davy and Mark Tapscott, has unveiled its first prototype electric vehicle, the Aesthetic Dynamic Demonstrator, in London. The company aims to address the common issue of excessive weight in high-performance EVs by embracing a "Speed of Lightness" philosophy inspired by Lotus founder Colin Chapman’s principle of simplifying and reducing weight. Their debut model, the roofless and windowless Speedster, is positioned as the first-ever "Featherweight Electric Vehicle" (FEV), weighing just 895 kg (1,973 lbs), significantly lighter than typical EVs. Despite its light construction, the Speedster delivers impressive performance, accelerating from 0 to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds and offering a WLTP-rated driving range of 275 miles. This is achieved through innovative engineering, including a unique aluminum chassis, a compact electric motor, and a module-to-chassis battery design that maximizes stiffness while minimizing mass. The Speed