The electric vehicle (EV) revolution has brought about incredible advancements in automotive technology, yet one aspect has often been overlooked: weight. With massive battery packs, EVs have generally become synonymous with hefty vehicles, a far cry from the nimble sports cars of the past. However, a new British startup, Longbow, is challenging this paradigm and aiming to redefine the electric sports car, potentially echoing the innovative spirit of Tesla in its early days.
Founded by veterans from Tesla, Lucid, and Polestar, Longbow has emerged from stealth mode with a bold vision: to create ultralight EVs that recapture the essence of iconic sports cars like the Lotus Elise and Jaguar E-Type. Their initial offerings, the Speedster and the Roadster, promise exhilarating performance and agility, directly addressing a gap in the market for lightweight electric sports cars, a segment where Tesla once made waves with its original Roadster.
The Dawn of Ultralight Electric Sports Cars
Longbow’s first model, the Speedster, is a testament to their lightweight philosophy. This open-top sports car tips the scales at a mere 895kg (approximately 1973 lbs), a featherweight figure in the EV world. This focus on lightness translates directly to performance: the Speedster is projected to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h (0-62 mph) in a blistering 3.5 seconds. Coupled with an estimated range of 275 miles, the Speedster offers a compelling blend of performance and practicality, all starting at a price of £84,995. Initial deliveries are anticipated in 2026, with an initial limited run of 150 Speedsters planned.
Following the Speedster, Longbow intends to shift focus to its slightly more substantial sibling, the Roadster. While heavier than the Speedster at 995kg (approximately 2194 lbs), the Roadster remains remarkably light for an EV. Priced more accessibly at £64,995, the Roadster sacrifices only a fraction of the Speedster’s pace, achieving 0-100km/h in a still-impressive 3.6 seconds. Both models stand in stark contrast to the current EV landscape, where average vehicle weights hover around 2,000kg (4409 lbs). Even Tesla’s original Roadster, a pioneer in electric sports cars, weighed in at a heavier 1,305kg (2877 lbs) before its discontinuation in 2012.
David Davey, Longbow’s co-founder and CEO, emphasizes this new direction: “Our first two cars embody everything a modern driver’s car should be: agile, balanced, electric, and exhilarating. We are reviving an icon, the lightweight British sports car.” Davey, who previously launched Lucid Motors in Europe and claims to have driven the Tesla Roadster launched into space by Elon Musk, clearly understands the appeal of both high-performance EVs and lightweight sports cars. The Speedster and Roadster are positioned not just as EVs, but as a statement against the trend of ever-increasing vehicle size and weight in the electric era, carving out a unique niche reminiscent of the early, disruptive spirit of Tesla in the electric sports car arena.
Seizing a Gap in the Electric Sports Car Market
The trend in the EV market has been towards larger vehicles – SUVs, trucks, and their electric counterparts. This growth in size is partly driven by battery size and capacity, but also by consumer demand for larger vehicle types. Ironically, Davey points out that the two-seater sports car market, the very segment that arguably ignited the electric vehicle revolution and is worth approximately $16 billion annually, remains largely untapped by electrification.
Longbow aims to capitalize on this oversight. While established automakers concentrate on mainstream EV segments, Longbow is strategically targeting the niche of lightweight electric sports cars. This approach mirrors Tesla’s initial strategy of focusing on a high-performance, niche market (electric sports cars with the original Roadster) before expanding into mass-market sedans and SUVs.
Longbow’s EV Expertise and Approach
Beyond striking renders, Longbow’s foundation rests on solid EV expertise. The founding team – Davey, Jenny Keisu, and Mark Tapscott – boasts a collective resume that includes leadership roles at Tesla, Uber, Polestar, and Lucid. Keisu’s experience as CEO of electric boating company X Shore further broadens their electric mobility knowledge. “We bring experience from the heart of EV innovation, understanding intimately how to design and deliver game-changing vehicles at commercial scale,” Davey asserts.
Longbow’s design and engineering philosophy also sets them apart. Instead of complex, proprietary systems, they are adopting a more pragmatic approach. The Speedster and Roadster will utilize a basic aluminum chassis with reusable and configurable parts for enhanced durability. Furthermore, Longbow plans to source a significant portion of components, including a readily available 240kW motor, from third-party suppliers. This strategy prioritizes efficiency and cost-effectiveness, allowing them to offer competitive pricing while focusing on their core innovation: lightweight design and agile handling in an electric sports car.
While this approach might mean the Speedster and Roadster won’t compete directly with electric hypercars or luxury EVs like the Porsche Taycan or Maserati Granturismo Folgore in terms of sheer power and cutting-edge features, they offer a compelling alternative. Longbow’s EVs are positioned as the ideal choice for drivers seeking a fun, engaging, and electrically powered weekend car, potentially replacing classics like the Porsche Boxster or Lotus Elise.
Both the Speedster and Roadster are currently available for pre-order, and Longbow anticipates unveiling their first prototype later in the year. Davey acknowledges the challenges ahead, including scaling production and navigating global supply chains. Their strategy of starting with a limited edition Speedster run of 150 units before broader Roadster production reflects a measured and strategic approach to entering a competitive market.
Longbow’s emergence signals an exciting development in the electric vehicle landscape. By prioritizing lightness and agility, and drawing inspiration from classic British sports cars while subtly echoing Tesla’s pioneering spirit in electric sports cars, they are poised to carve a unique and compelling niche in the evolving EV market. Their success could mark a turning point, demonstrating that the future of electric vehicles can be both sustainable and exhilarating, harking back to the joy of lightweight sports car driving, now reimagined for the electric age.
