Based on our current understanding of physics, creating a faster-than-light (FTL) drive that does not require massive amounts of energy is not supported by known scientific principles. The theory of special relativity, as mentioned earlier, establishes the speed of light as an absolute speed limit and suggests that infinite energy would be needed to achieve or exceed it.
However, it's worth noting that scientific knowledge is not static, and our understanding of the universe continues to evolve. While FTL travel remains highly speculative, there have been some proposed concepts that attempt to circumvent the energy requirements associated with it. Two notable ideas are wormholes and warp drives, although both are purely theoretical at this point.
Wormholes are hypothetical tunnels or shortcuts in spacetime that could potentially connect distant regions of the universe. If traversable wormholes could be created, they might provide a means to travel faster than light without requiring excessive energy. However, the stability and controllability of wormholes, as well as the energy requirements for creating or manipulating them, remain significant challenges.
Similarly, the concept of a warp drive, popularized by science fiction, suggests that space itself could be manipulated to achieve FTL travel. It involves contracting space in front of a spacecraft while expanding it behind, effectively creating a warp bubble that moves the spacecraft faster than light. However, this concept relies on speculative ideas such as negative energy or exotic matter, which have not been observed or successfully harnessed.
In summary, while there have been speculative proposals for FTL drives that might require less energy, they are currently purely theoretical and lack experimental confirmation. Our understanding of physics suggests that FTL travel would require overcoming immense energy requirements and other significant challenges. Future scientific advancements may lead to new insights, but for now, FTL travel without massive energy remains beyond our current understanding.