Axon 60

A British engineering team is building a 500-kilogram car that delivers over 100 miles per gallon using a patented carbon beam structure never before put into production. This matters because road transport accounts for a large share of UK carbon emissions, and cutting vehicle weight is one of the most direct ways to reduce fuel consumption. Most lightweight structures remain too expensive or difficult to manufacture at scale. The Axon 60 project aims to solve that by productionising a globally patented carbon beam technology—a structural innovation that keeps the car light (500 kg), low-drag, and safe enough to meet EU vehicle legislation. A 500cc engine and continuously variable transmission from a UK supplier give it a competitive power-to-weight ratio. If successful, the project could shift how lightweight vehicles are built, making ultra-efficient plug-in hybrids commercially viable for fleets. That would lower CO₂ per kilometre without requiring a full switch to battery electric vehicles, which remain heavy and resource-intensive. The impact would be felt in fleet logistics, urban delivery services, and any application where low emissions and low weight matter. The project also explores the practical limits of plug-in hybrid technology in light vehicles, testing whether the combination of a small engine, electric assist, and carbon structure can deliver real-world efficiency at scale.