If you’ve ever tried to park a modern pickup in a city, you know the vibes are off. They are literal behemoths. Enter the Telo MT1, a tiny electric truck from a California startup that’s basically saying, “ok but why do you need a tank?” It’s giving Japanese kei truck energy—super short, cab-over design, and four doors—but it’s lowkey packing more utility than you’d expect.
Under the hood of the 'mini'
Don’t let the size fool you. While it’s about the same length as a two-door Mini Cooper, this thing is built to work. It’s got an estimated 0-60mph time of four seconds and can tow up to 8,000lbs. CEO Jason Marks and CTO Forrest North, both automotive vets, pivoted from electric motorcycles to trucks after realizing people just really wanted a practical, small-scale hauler.
Real talk: The specs
It features a 96-inch bed—the same size you’d find on a full-size truck—achieved by using a "midgate" that folds down. Since there’s no frunk, they added a "monster tunnel" under the bed that’s big enough to swallow two carry-on suitcases. The battery tech is also pretty high-key: it supports both 400V and 800V architecture, meaning it can juice up on Tesla Superchargers or newer, high-powered stations.
Why it matters
Telo is trying to prove that urban life doesn't need to be dominated by massive trucks. With traffic safety statistics showing that large vehicles are increasingly dangerous to pedestrians, the team is betting that a smaller, nimble, but equally capable EV is a total W for city dwellers who actually need a truck bed without the headache of a massive footprint.
