Where are the electric pickup trucks? The Cybertruck isnβt really a pickup in the usual sense of the term, and Fordβs F-150 Lightning has been getting great reviews but disappointing sales.
TELO Trucks is addressing an unserved segmentβthe company makes a compact electric pickup truck, and with its new TELO Trucks Commercial Fleet Sales initiative, it is targeting the fleet market.
TELO explains that fleet operators face several challenges: oversized vehicles struggle to access tight spaces; existing electric trucks use energy inefficiently; and heavy-duty capabilities are often sacrificed for sustainability. TELO says its proprietary battery design is 50 percent more space-efficient than traditional EV battery packs, allowing for a smaller footprint without compromising performance.
TELOβs truck will be offered in two variants: 4WD, 1,700-lb payload; or 2WD, 2,000-lb payload. Both powertrains have a 6,600-lb towing capacity and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 6,100 lbs.
The truck bed is available in 60-inch or 96-inch lengths. An integrated Power Take-Off (PTO) system powers tools, charges equipment and supports mobile workstations. Optional temperature control in the enclosed bed enables cold storage applications.
Through a collaboration with Aptera, buyers can select up to three solar panel kits (rooftop truck cab, tonneau truck bed cover, or camper shell), enabling charging on-the-go and enhancing energy independence in remote locations.
βFleet operators shouldnβt have to choose between power, efficiency and sustainability,β said TELO CEO and co-founder Jason Marks. βWe understand our commercial partnersβ needs, offering them a solutions-forward pickup truck so they can operate smarter, keep costs low and meet emissions standardsβwithout compromise.β
βOn top of normal business challenges, fleets with pickups that operate in cities have had to deal with ever-increasing traffic, more restrictive parking access, and higher costs for purchase, maintenance and fuel,β said J Frank Guercio, founder of ACME Fleet Solutions. βAnd, since the early 1990s, pickup trucks have continued to get larger! TELO provides a small truck that offers a big solution to all these issues.β
βLately, trucks have grown so large that the only compelling option for our urban customers is a 20-year-old, two-door Toyota Tacoma,β said Sohail Suleman, CEO of rental firm TRUQIT. βTELO is the only automaker designing with our customers in mind.β
Customers can pre-order a TELO truck for $152βthe length in inches of the compact vehicle.
Source: body
