Telo Scores $20M for Compact Electric Urban Trucks

 Electric vehicle startup Telo raises $20 million to develop mini trucks designed for city deliveries and urban commuting.

A new player just entered the electric vehicle arena with a pretty clever idea. Telo Trucks has secured $20 million in funding to build what might be the smallest electric pickup trucks we have seen designed specifically for city living. The startup is not trying to compete with the massive electric trucks dominating the market; instead, they are focusing on creating compact vehicles that can actually navigate tight urban streets while still offering practical cargo space. Telo's CEO, Jason Marks, explained their approach: "Most people do not need a giant truck for their daily city needs; they need something that can handle a Home Depot run but still fits in a compact parking space. That is the gap we are filling."

The technical specs reveal how Telo plans to pull off this urban-focused design. Their trucks will measure about 150 inches long, roughly the size of a Mini Cooper but with a pickup bed that can still carry standard plywood sheets and construction materials. The battery technology uses new high-density cells that provide about 250 miles of range while keeping the vehicle lightweight enough for efficient city driving. Perhaps the smartest feature is what they are calling "modular bed extensions" that can expand the cargo area when needed but retract for normal city parking. The vehicles will also include vehicle-to-load capabilities, meaning you can actually power tools or devices directly from the truck's battery system.

For transportation startups and founders, Telo's funding signals a shift toward specialized vehicle designs rather than one-size-fits-all solutions. As one automotive industry analyst noted, "The success of companies like Telo shows that the EV market is maturing enough to support niche products that solve specific urban mobility problems." This creates opportunities for startups working on complementary technologies like urban charging infrastructure, last-mile delivery solutions, and software platforms for managing small commercial fleets. For investors, it demonstrates that there is still plenty of room for innovation in the EV space beyond simply making existing vehicle types electric; the real opportunity might be in redesigning transportation for specific use cases and environments.