TELO is a brand new electrical truck startup based mostly in Silicon Valley that goals to offer an electrical truck with the capabilities of right this moment’s full-size pickup vehicles, however in a right-sized bundle that really matches in a metropolis.

TELO is a startup cofounded by Jason Marks, who led ADAS/Autonomous drive take a look at packages at Nationwide Devices, and EV business veteran Forrest North, an early Tesla Roadster engineer, cofounder of Mission Motors and former COO of Recargo/Plugshare.

The startup remains to be in its early phases, however has huge plans for its tiny electrical truck, with a spec sheet of some fairly unbelievable specs.

TELO plans to supply a 106kWh battery on its first mannequin, with a twin motor configuration able to 500 horsepower. This offers the truck a 0-60 time of about 4 seconds, with a prime velocity of 125mph.

The corporate estimates that the truck may have a variety of 350 miles, and is focusing on a 20-minute cost time from 20-80% capability (this works out to a couple of 190kW common cost charge from 20-80%, although it ought to be capable of take a couple of 320kW peak).

All of this is available in an extremely small bundle. It’s solely 152 inches lengthy – the identical size as the electrical Mini Cooper SE. That’s 5 ft shorter than the Toyota Tacoma, the best-selling “compact” pickup truck in America, and 6 and a half ft shorter than the F-150 Lightning. And at 4,400 lb., it weighs lower than a Tesla Mannequin Y.

By some means, although, regardless of the Mini having 4 seats at that size, TELO guarantees to suit 5 seats and a full-size 60″ truck mattress, similar as the bottom mannequin crew cab Tacoma. That’s six inches longer than the 54″ mattress of the Rivian R1T, six inches shorter than the 66″ mattress of the F-150 Lightning, and the identical size because the extreme Hummer EV “supertruck,” although with 49 inches between the wheels, the TELO is a little bit narrower than every.

TELO says that so as to obtain this space-efficiency, it has chosen to optimize for house in any respect factors within the design course of. These design decisions will be summarized as “ok to be superb, however we don’t need to be the perfect,” mentioned TELO. By not going over-the-top with any specific spec, the corporate can save house and cash.

For instance, TELO says its battery – which makes use of normal 21700 cells –  can be 50% more room environment friendly than the remainder of the business as a result of it is ready to save house with lower-amperage connections because it’s not aiming to interrupt any information with 0-60 instances like another big-battery EVs. And the entrance of the truck mattress is the again of the rear seats, in order that’s one fewer physique panel or seat half that must be designed, tooled, produced, and hooked up to the automobile.

On that time – the rear seats act as a mid-gate, and will be folded all the way down to create a flat floor lengthy and vast sufficient to hold full 4×8 sheets of plywood or a nine-foot surfboard even with the tailgate up (and doubtlessly absolutely enclosed by a tonneau cowl, although TELO has not but determined if one will come normal).

Even with out a tonneau cowl, the truck may have enclosed storage within the type of a tunnel storage compartment, which can perform equally to Rivian’s “gear tunnel.” This has been a preferred characteristic on the Rivian, as a spot to retailer soiled objects that you just don’t need to throw into an open mattress, or to make use of the tunnel door itself as a seat or as a step to entry gear on a roof rack.

However on the TELO, the tunnel can be accessed from above by eradicating a part of the truck mattress. This doesn’t simply give extra choices for accessing storage, however opens up an entire new risk for rear passengers.

As if two rows and a full-size mattress weren’t sufficient, TELO plans to supply an optionally available camper shell and bolt-in third-row seats, bringing whole seating capability to eight whole passengers, says the corporate. On this configuration, the tunnel will get used because the footwell for the rear passengers.

Alternately, the camper shell can be utilized with out third-row seats for enclosed storage, and TELO needs to attach it to automobile HVAC, which might be helpful for companies or for house owners who typically carry pets round within the again.

The truck can be able to V2L, with retailers within the mattress, although TELO hasn’t determined how a lot draw it is going to be able to but.

TELO is being constructed with security in thoughts from the get-go. Regardless of the quick front-end with just one inch of overhang over the entrance wheels (on a 111.5-inch whole wheelbase), the seating place is just not fully cab-over and occupants are nonetheless hidden behind a crumple zone. However in line with Marks’s earlier experience engaged on ADAS testing programs, TELO claims it has a number of revolutionary digital aids for each driver and passenger security deliberate, although it couldn’t elaborate on what particular applied sciences it had in thoughts.

However extra importantly, a small electrical truck is inherently safer for roads, pedestrians, and for the atmosphere. In recent times we’ve got seen a development towards large land yachts taking up the highway (but with much less utility and smaller beds), with SUV and truck gross sales skyrocketing. And it’s been no coincidence that pedestrian deaths have risen quickly in sync with gross sales of bigger autos that usually go away pedestrian security as an excessive afterthought.

Not solely do these large vehicles and SUVs hurt pedestrians, additionally they trigger extra highway injury, run via extra tires (inflicting extra particulate air pollution from tire particles), contribute to sprawl, and use extra sources each to fabricate and to function. It’s all dangerous, it’s all harmful, and we have to do one thing about it.

TELO presents an answer right here. It’s a automobile that has the aptitude of a full-size truck, however makes use of far fewer sources and is much less of a hazard to everybody round it. And for a world inhabitants that’s each rising and urbanizing, small city EVs are going to be vital each for metropolis dwellers who want or select to have a automobile, and for companies that want cargo house however would profit from a smaller automobile.

And the corporate thinks that the market is prepared for a truck like this. There was some pushback brewing in opposition to rising automobile sizes currently, and even “compact” vehicles just like the aforementioned Tacoma are a number of ft longer than this automobile. Crossover SUVs are standard as a result of individuals need vehicles which have more room and utility, however aren’t as huge as a truck or full-size SUV.

So what if they might have much more utility in an excellent smaller bundle? It might be a success, particularly provided that there isn’t the rest prefer it on the American market (and small supply vehicles are already standard in each Europe and Asia, so there’s your proof-of-concept).

So now, all the way down to the underside line: How a lot does it value, and when can we get it?

TELO is at the moment focusing on a value of $50K earlier than incentives, and it ought to qualify for Inflation Discount Act tax credit too. Sooner or later, TELO needs to supply a model with a smaller battery and single motor, presumably with a lower cost. This could be good for individuals who know they don’t want an enormous 350-mile battery, or for companies with set routes or principally intracity journey. However, like most startups, the main target can be to start out upmarket and ship one extremely outfitted model to start out off, then increase with different choices later.

As for deliberate supply, there are a number of steps to go earlier than then. TELO needs to have a working prototype by the tip of summer season, a press automobile by the tip of the yr, to do homologation (crash/aero evaluation) over the course of the subsequent yr and conclude all of these preproduction steps in 2024. Then, it hopes to have the primary 500 hand-built autos by the tip of 2025, and 10,000 contract-manufactured autos in 2026.

These are all extremely tight timelines, and principally describe excellent execution – so, as is commonly the case with EV startups, there could also be some “flexibility” on the above dates.

For those who’re interested by getting a TELO, the corporate is taking pre-orders right this moment at its web site, telotrucks.com. Pre-orders are $152 – similar to the 152-inch size of the truck. You too can be a part of TELO’s Discord server the place it can solicit suggestions on growth.

Electrek’s Take

I’ve made my ideas clear about ballooning SUV and truck sizes a number of instances earlier than on this website. Briefly, I’m in opposition to it. We want smaller autos, and we have to dwell in denser, greener areas. These are vital steps within the battle in opposition to local weather change, which is crucial downside humanity has ever encountered.

Relating to big SUVs, I’m you, virtually each automaker, as a result of all of you appear to be releasing big three-row electrical SUVs this yr, which threatens potential emissions reductions from going EV. However I’m additionally authorities, as a result of a part of the rationale for that is because of guidelines that encourage SUVs, an issue that the EPA lastly acknowledged and is taking some motion to repair in its new rules.

As for the TELO, regardless that we haven’t gotten to experience in it but, I feel it’s fairly clear that I like all the pieces that’s been promised right here.

However, once I mentioned the specs had been “unbelievable” above, I meant it. Studying via the press launch, I actually thought the corporate was pushing the bounds of actuality.

After talking with the founders, all of it does appear extra reasonable. I can see how they will pack lots right into a tiny bundle, and the way they’re getting lots of the numbers they’ve quoted.

I’m nonetheless skeptical of a few them – promising such an enormous bounce in volumetric vitality density, for instance – however I see how most of that is potential.

And I’m additionally a bit skeptical of the necessity for thus many options, when trimmed-down variations of the truck might be extra fit-to-purpose. A supply truck doesn’t want a second row of seats or 0-60 in 4 seconds, a household hauler doesn’t must go 125 mph, and so forth. However that is simply the beginning, and TELO mentioned they might provide trimmed-down variations sooner or later, so we’ll hope to see these.

I wouldn’t be stunned to see manufacturing timing slip, to see some options lower or made optionally available, or to see another modifications to cost or battery measurement. However even with a couple of reductions right here and there, this nonetheless is an astounding bundle and fills a market that must be crammed and that no one else is filling. And it might probably’t get right here fast sufficient, for my part, so we hope they make it to manufacturing (making vehicles is tough) and may begin to bend the needle within the US towards right-sized autos with a lot of functionality in much less house.

As at all times, we’re completely happy to listen to your suggestions within the feedback. What do you concentrate on the TELO? Are their plans reasonable, is there a marketplace for this type of truck within the US? Tell us beneath.