The Tiny Telo MT1 Electric Truck Has a Big Solar Secret
Image Credit: Telo/Aptera.
We've got electric cars that look like spaceships, and we even have electric trucks that can power your house. And now, we have a mini electric truck that thinks it's a sunflower. A tiny truck with solar panels. It's the lovechild of a Tonka truck and a calculator. Seriously.
We wrote about this little sprout of an EV before. The Telo MT1 is about the size of a Mini Cooper, but somehow, this pint-sized pickup packs a bed longer than the mighty Rivian R1T. How they managed that, I have no idea.
The MT1 was already big news, but now it just got bigger - it has a solar panel option. Telo has partnered with Aptera, the company that makes those three-wheeled electric thingamajigs that look like they're straight out of Tron. Aptera supplies their solar cells for the MT1, and they claim these panels can generate up to 200 watts each in peak sunlight. That's enough to power a decent-sized disco ball or, in this case, add 1-2 kWh to the battery per day. That means in a best-case scenario, you'll get about six miles of range.
Image Credit: Telo/Aptera.
True, that's not exactly going to give you a free ride. The MT1 comes with either a 260-mile or a 350-mile battery pack, the latter being a hefty 106 kWh. A quick session of napkin math reveals we'd need about 2 months of sunshine to fully charge this pocket pickup truck. So, unless you plan on parking this thing in the Sahara Desert for a month or two, you'll still need to plug it in occasionally.
Telo claims their truck is the "world's most efficient EV pickup," and with Aptera's solar panels, they might be onto something. Cruising down the highway, soaking up the sun's rays, and feeling smug about your minuscule carbon footprint? Yeah, that's gonna feel quite good. Of course, you might also get some strange looks from people wondering why your truck has a roof covered in what appears to be discarded calculator parts.
But who cares what other people think? This little truck is all about practicality and sustainability. It's perfect for city dwellers who need a truck for occasional hauling but don't want the F-150. And with solar panels, you can extend your range and reduce your reliance on the grid. Just remember not to park under a tree.
Image Credit: Telo/Aptera.
Telo says they plan to add the solar panel configurations to pre-order options later this year. In the meantime, you can reserve your spot in the build queue for a refundable deposit of $152. That's less than a tank of gas these days!
Prices - the single-motor 2WD version with the 260-mile battery starts at $41,520. The dual-motor 4WD model with the same battery will set you back $46,019. Upgrading to the 350-mile battery costs extra $3,980.
So - Telo MT1, a tiny truck with a big solar secret. It's efficient, it's sustainable, and it's just plain cool. Six miles of free range isn't much, but for someone who uses their car only on weekends, this could mean around 30 miles of driving without spending a dime. If this really works - I'm in!
