Electric-vehicle startup company TELO claims it has βthe worldβs most efficient pickup truck,β offering a battery-powered solution to construction fleets accessing tight worksites or urban areas where larger trucks would struggle to fit.
At 152 inches long, the four-door TELO MT1 pickup is about the size of a two-door Mini Cooper to βaccess any job site.β But it also has a 60-inch bed β about the size of a Toyota Tacomaβs βΒ that can extend into the backseat area to 96 inches with the midgate down, the company says. TELO says the truck has βfull-sized pickup utility with a compact design.β
The pickup comes with a variety of configurations. It can hold up to 4-by-8-foot sheets of plywood with the tailgate up and its midgate down. The midgate enables it to be configured for two to five passengers. The California-based company is also working on a specially designed storage tunnel under the bed that would double as a footwell for a third row of seats for fitting eight passengers.
The trucks come in either single motor with two-wheel drive or dual motor with four-wheel drive.
The battery system has a range of 260 miles for the single-motor version and 350 miles for the dual-motor version. Fast-charge capabilities range from 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the option a customer chooses, according to TELO.
TELOWith the single motor, the truck delivers 300 horsepower and can go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The dual motor delivers 500 horsepower and can reach 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, the company says.
The single-motor version has a 2,000-pound payload, and the dual can haul 1,700 pounds. Both have towing capacities of 6,600 pounds, according to TELO.
With their low noise and emissions, the electric trucks can be operated indoors or at underground sites, as well, the company says. They have a gross vehicle weight rating of 6,100 pounds.
Along with a battery system for powering the truck, the MT1 has an integrated power take-off system for powering tools, charging equipment and running mobile workstations.
TELOThe company says its βbattery design is 50 percent more space-efficient than traditional EV battery packs.β It also recently announced it is collaborating with solar-vehicle startup company Aptera Motors for solar charging on the trucks. It says it plans to offer three solar-panel kits: rooftop truck cab, tonneau truck bed cover or camper shell.
At this point, the MT1 is not ready for market, but TELO says it expects to start customer deliveries βsometime in 2026.β The company is taking pre-orders for a “fully refundable deposit” of $152 βΒ the compact truckβs length in inches.
According to a TELO spokesperson, more than 5,000 pre-orders have been received so far, which comes to $250 million in customer commitments. The spokesperson released the following pricing information for the pickup:
βThe base price for the TELO MT1 electric pickup truck is $41,520 for the standard-range, single-motor variant. The dual-motor, long-range variant is priced at $46,019. Customers also have the option of a standard-range battery (260+ miles/30 minutes fast-charge capabilities) or β for anΒ additional $3,980 β a long-range battery, which offers 350+ mile range and 20-minute fast-charge capabilities.β (For more pricing details, check out the TELO charts at the end of this story.)
The trucks come in eight colors: sand dune, blizzard white, orange sunset, ocean blue, cool steel, dark emerald, sable bronze or night shadow.
TELOQuick Specs
These specifications for the MT1 are listed on TELOβs website:
Battery: 106 kWhMax range: 260-350+ miles on one charge, depending on motor optionCharge time: 20-30 minutes to 80% (fast charge option)Engine power: 300-hp single motor; 500-hp dual motorPayload: 2,000 lbs. single motor; 1,700 lbs. dual motorTowing: 6,600 lbs.Acceleration 0-60 mph: 4.5 sec single motor; 3.5 sec dual motorLength: 152βWidth: 73βHeight: 66βPricing Options
TELO provided the following price charts for its MT1 pickup, set for delivery in 2026:
Telotel
