Telo’s compact truck aims to redefine what it means to be efficient and electric on the road.
In a world where pickup trucks seem to keep growing bigger and more powerful, there’s a new player on the block that’s going in the opposite direction. Enter Telo, a tiny electric truck startup aiming to shake up the market with its subcompact EV truck. This little powerhouse is catching attention not just for its size, but also for the big names backing it. Recently, Telo announced a fresh influx of funding, to the tune of $5.4 million from investors like Neo and Spero Investors, and even more notably, Tesla co-founder Marc Tarpenning has hopped on board, joining Telo’s board.
What’s Telo all about, you ask? Late in 2023, the company revealed a drivable chassis, and now they’re fine-tuning the design to sprint toward production. They’re targeting two main groups: urban commercial fleets looking for a nimble vehicle capable of hitting the highways and private drivers desiring a small but mighty all-wheel-drive (AWD) hauler.
Now, let’s talk dimensions. The Telo truck is super tiny, stretching only 152 inches, which puts it in the same size league as a Mini Cooper. Despite its compact size, it boasts a five-foot bed with a clever gear tunnel that can transform into a footwell for a third passenger row, bumping the capacity up to eight passengers.
But don’t let its size fool you. This EV truck is expected to pack quite the punch with a 350-mile range and a 380 kW dual motor setup, delivering a whopping 500 horsepower. That’s double the horsepower of the average car and even surpasses many full-sized trucks. For reference, the Cybertruck’s dual motor version cranks out about 600 hp, and Telo is claiming a zippy 0-60 mph time of just four seconds.
Safety might be a concern for some, given its compact size and the inspiration drawn from kei-style trucks popular overseas. These smaller vehicles aren’t typically rated for freeway use, raising eyebrows about how Telo’s truck would fare in a collision. However, Telo founders are addressing these concerns head-on with plans to incorporate a new roll bar into the design.
With a vision that small electric cars can solve many of today’s transportation challenges, Telo is confidently moving forward. It has already attracted 2,500 reservations and plans to hand-build the first 500 trucks for delivery before ramping up to mass production.
If you’re intrigued and thinking about reserving your spot in line for a Telo EV truck, you can do so with a refundable deposit of $152 — a nod to the truck’s length in inches. The base model is currently listed at $49,999, positioning it as an intriguing option for those looking for an efficient, versatile, and compact EV.
As the EV market continues to expand and diversify, it’s clear that there’s room for innovation beyond the giants and the gas-guzzlers. With significant backing, a clear vision, and a unique offering, Telo is one to watch as it drives toward a future where size doesn’t always equal power.
