California-based electric vehicle start-up Telo is taking on the conventional pickup truck with its compact and highly efficient electric truck, the Telo MT1. The Mini Cooper SE-sized electric truck comes with the same practicality of a mid-size truck like the Toyota Tacoma but with a smaller footprint. Priced at around $50,000, the Telo MT1 is claimed to be the world’s most efficient electric truck on the market.

Telo was founded by CEO Jason Marks, an expert in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) who holds LiDAR patents, and CTO Forrest North, who was part of the early team that developed the Tesla Roadster and holds 15 patents in electric vehicle batteries and charging. To create the Telo MT1, the company sought the expertise of designer Yves Behar, who has worked with top brands such as Samsung, L’Oreal, Prada, and Puma, to oversee the design.

The Telo MT1’s key feature is its compact size. It is only 152 inches long, the same as a Mini Cooper SE, 73 inches wide, and 66 inches tall, comparable to the Audi Q4 e-tron. The electric truck utilizes a skateboard chassis design to maximize practicality and eliminates excess spaces. Most of the body and some of the chassis components are made from carbon-fiber-reinforced-plastic (CFRP), making them cheaper to acquire.

The Telo MT1’s electric-powered drivetrain eliminates the need for a long hood, which is an essential design element in traditional pickup trucks. Instead, it comes with a flat front that has a skidplate and a raked windshield. Overall, the Telo MT1 is a game-changing electric truck that provides impressive performance in a compact and efficient package.