- Telo’s MT1 is the size of a Mini Cooper yet packs a 106 kWh battery.
- Towing capacity has climbed from 6,600 lbs to a stout 8,000 lbs.
- Brand plans to begin MT1 electric truck production later this year.
While the cheap electric truck from Slate has grabbed most of the headlines over the past year, it isn’t the only small electric pickup in development on US soil. Telo has another, and the company has spent the past three years quietly refining its compact MT1. Tiny it may be, but the towing numbers tell a different story.
Telo got its start in 2022, founded by Jason Marks, Forrest North, and Yves Béhar. There’s a strong Tesla connection here too, as North helped engineer the battery packs in the original Tesla Roadster, and actual Tesla co-founder Marc Tarpenning sits on Telo’s board and has put money into the company twice.
Read: Telo’s First Electric Truck Promises Tacoma Utility In A Pickup The Size Of A Mini
The MT1, which is roughly the same length as a two-door Mini Cooper, manages to cram in a sizeable 106 kWh battery pack and dual electric motors with a combined 500 hp. Aside from the probably impressive acceleration, the powerful dual-motor setup allows the MT1 to tow more than a normal Tesla Cybertruck, rated at 7,500 lbs (3,400 kg), despite its tiny footprint. Admittedly, higher-spec versions of the Tesla can tow up to 11,000 lbs (4,989 kg).
Earlier on during the truck’s development, Telo said it’d be able to tow 6,600 lbs (2,993 lbs), which is a respectable figure. In the course of extensive testing, Telo co-founder and chief technology officer Forrest North revealed the company has been able to safely push this up to 8,000 lbs (3,628 kg). Keep in mind, the Telo weighs around 4,400 lbs (1,995 kg), so that means it can almost tow double its weight.
How Much Will it Cost?
Although Telo’s creation could be easily compared to the Slate truck, it isn’t targeting the same price point. Whereas the most basic Slate will start at $24,950, the cheapest M1T from Telo is said to cost $41,520, with the base model offering a single electric motor with 300 hp and 260 miles (418 km) of range. The all-wheel-drive model, in addition to boosting power to 500 hp, will also provide around 350 miles (563 km) of range, and is expected to start at around $50,000.
Last year, Telo received $20 million in Series A funding to help put its electric truck into production. The current aim is for production to begin before the end of this year, although in the startup automotive space, delays are not uncommon, so don’t be surprised if that date gets pushed out.
