Tiny Electric Truck Tows 8,000 Pounds, Beats Ford F-150

A compact electric truck barely longer than a Mini Cooper just proved it can out-tow some of America's most popular full-size pickups.

The Telo MT1 measures just 152 inches long but can now haul 8,000 pounds. That's nearly double its own weight and more than the Ford F-150 Lightning (7,700 pounds), the two-wheel-drive Cybertruck (7,500 pounds), and the Toyota Tacoma (6,500 pounds).

Forest North, the company's co-founder and chief technology officer, pushed for the upgrade because of his own travel trailer. "I wanted to make sure that I could tow that," North said.

The challenge wasn't just pulling weight but stopping and climbing safely. Long downhill stretches can overheat brakes, while steep climbs strain motors and cooling systems.

Telo solved the downhill problem with regenerative braking that can work for miles without touching the brake pedal. You reach the bottom with cooler brakes and a fuller battery.

For uphill climbs, the truck's dual motors deliver 500 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of instant torque. "It is incredible to be on a hill as steep as you can go and you can just jet forward," North explained.

The MT1 comes with either a 77-kilowatt-hour battery pack (260 miles of range) or a 106-kilowatt-hour pack (over 350 miles). Those numbers drop to around 200 miles when towing a flat-fronted travel trailer.

Despite its compact size, the truck includes a full-size five-foot by eight-foot bed and seats five people inside. Add optional third-row seating in the bed, and it can carry eight passengers.

The Bright Side

North acknowledges the truck works best for shorter towing trips, while diesel trucks still win for long-haul journeys. But this honest approach shows how innovation can serve real needs without overpromising.

The company recently raised $20 million, including funding from Tesla co-founder Marc Tarpenning, and plans to start production by the end of this year. The base model will cost $41,520.

The MT1 proves that smaller doesn't mean weaker, and electric doesn't mean compromised.