This 152-inch electric truck can tow 8,000 pounds, beating larger pickup averages

A tiny electric truck posted a towing number that would be impressive even for a full-size pickup. Telo says its 152-inch MT1 can tow up to 8,000 pounds, putting it ahead of several larger, more familiar trucks already on the market.

Here's what to know

At 8,000 pounds, the MT1 clears the standard-range Ford F-150 Lightning's 7,700-pound max, the two-wheel-drive Cybertruck's 7,500-pound figure, and the Toyota Tacoma's 6,500-pound rating, New Atlas reported. 

Co-founder and CTO Forest North said Telo raised the compact truck's initial towing capacity from 6,000 pounds to 8,000 pounds.

Telo says the MT1 still includes a 60-by-96-inch bed, room for five, and an optional third row in the bed area that lifts passenger capacity to eight. Those features are packed into a truck that is just 152 inches long, versus 232.7 inches for the F-150 Lightning.

North said real-world needs shaped the higher tow rating. "I personally have a travel trailer, and I wanted to make sure that I could tow that," he said, per New Atlas.

More background

North said the difficult part of towing is often heat control on grades, not simply getting a heavy load moving. He explained that long descents can overheat brakes, while extended climbs can tax cooling systems for the motor and transmission.

Telo argues that electric power offers a useful advantage. "We can regen for miles and miles and miles going down a pass; you're not touching your brakes," North said, per New Atlas, referring to regenerative braking, which sends energy back to the battery.

North also pointed to instant torque as a benefit. "It is incredible to be on a hill as steep as you can go and you can just jet forward," he said, per New Atlas. The MT1 has a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup that produces 500 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, and its battery options are 77 kilowatt-hours for 260 miles of range and 106 kilowatt-hours for 350 miles (without a trailer).

That means the electric pickup could occupy a useful middle ground. It may be simpler to park and maneuver than oversize trucks while still being capable of hauling and towing.

What's being done?

Telo is moving toward production after raising roughly $20 million, including a Series A led by Tesla co-founder Marc Tarpenning, New Atlas reported. The startup is also working through government production readiness requirements before manufacturing starts.

The MT1 points to a change in electric trucks, which are increasingly being positioned for more than light-duty errands. More generally, EVs can lower fuel spending and routine maintenance costs because they do not need oil changes and often have fewer mechanical parts that wear out.

The MT1 is unlikely to replace every long-haul work truck, but it does expand the choices for drivers who want utility without the size, fuel costs, and tailpipe pollution of a conventional pickup.

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