In this podcast, episode 33 of the Insider's Guide to Energy EV Series, hosts Chris Sass and Niall Riddell (Paua) talk to Jason Marks, Co-Founder and CEO and Forrest North Co-Founder and CTO of Telo Trucks. The podcast focuses on the Future of Electric Trucks.

Telo Trucks, an electric startup, is transforming the electric truck landscape by introducing a compact, urban-friendly solution that challenges the trend of oversized vehicles. In a market dominated by large electric pickups, Telo offers a mini truck that maintains the full capabilities of a mid-sized truck but within the footprint of a two-door Mini Cooper. This innovative design caters to both commercial and recreational users in densely populated urban areas, providing the power and utility of a full-size truck without the excessive bulk.

Telo Trucks is addressing the challenges of creating safe, efficient,and sustainable vehicles for urban and commercial use. Jason discusses the company's meticulous approach to navigating the U.S. homologation process,ensuring their vehicles meet all regulatory standards before mass production. This rigorous testing—both physical and digital—includes hundreds of crash simulations and real-world trials, which help Telo Trucks ensure safety and compliance without extensive capital outlay.

Jason highlights how U.S. regulations have indirectly led to the proliferation of large trucks. Initially, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exempted trucks from fuel efficiency mandates during the 1970s energy crisis, enabling them to grow unrestricted. As emissions rules tightened in 2010, larger trucks received allowances due to their “work vehicle” status, leading manufacturers to build even bigger models to meet regulatory thresholds. Telo Trucks aims to reverse this trend by developing compact, efficient trucks that meet emission standards without contributing to the escalating size of vehicles on American roads. They contrast the U.S. approach with Japan’s, where tax incentives have encouraged smaller vehicles to conserve space and reduce emissions.

Telo Truck’s urban focus means most users will charge their trucks at home, covering the majority of daily needs. However, Telo Truck acknowledges the need for a broader charging infrastructure to support long-haul trips. They endorse the automaker-led charging networks, citing Tesla's success with its Supercharger network, and advocate for expanded investment in charging stations across the U.S.

To avoid the pitfalls of high upfront costs, Telo Trucks is leveraging contract manufacturing, allowing them to scale gradually without investing in large production facilities immediately. They also optimise costs by using flexible tooling in production. For example, rather than committing millions to high-volume steel tools immediately, they use less costly tooling suitable for small batches, allowing them to test and adjust the design without expensive retooling. This strategy helps Telo Truck stay nimble, addressing issues in small production runs before moving to full-scale manufacturing.

Telo Truck’s modular platform is designed for flexibility, supporting various body types like SUVs and vans on the same chassis. This adaptability allows them to respond to different market needs and vehicle classes (from Class 2 to Class 6 trucks) without reinventing the base platform. Their ultimate goal is to shrink the size and improve the efficiency of all vehicle types, reducing environmental impact and enhancing urban mobility.

They are also exploring new materials to improve the safety, weight, and cost of their vehicles, positioning them at the forefront of lightweight, crash-resistant EV design. These innovations in material science contribute to Telo Truck’s long-term vision of creating smaller, sustainable vehicles across multiple categories.

In the future, Telo Trucks envision replacing oversized urban trucks with compact, efficient models that still meet the demands of users. They aim to become a volume manufacturer, scaling gradually as they refine their processes, with an emphasis on safety, cost-efficiency, and environmental sustainability. By focusing on scalable manufacturing, policy-aligned designs, and an adaptable platform, Telo Trucks believe it can carve a unique niche in the electric vehicle market, ultimately helping to reshape the industry and reduce emissions.

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