Source: TeloSource: TeloElectric vehicle startup manufacturers seem to be everywhere these days, and the compact EV pickup space is particularly hot.With footprints that allow for easier around-town use and prices that (theoretically) fall well below their major manufacturer full-size counterparts, brands like Slate and Telo are positioned to have a moment. Stats and specs only help their preemptive case, and Telo has recently announced just how much the MT1 can tow, which should work in its favor.Telo has a lot to prove, and that's only exacerbated by the fact that its MT1 pickup is only 152 inches long. That's 5 inches shorter than a Mazda Miata, and 80 (!) inches shorter than a crew-cab, short-bed Ford F-150.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe latter is the notable point here, as Telo announced recently that the MT1 will be able to pull 6,600 pounds in its standard Single Motor configuration and 8,000 pounds in Dual Motor spec. Company co-founder and CTO Forrest North said, "In that 8,000-pound range, it unlocks the ability to have some of the new trailers that are coming onto the market which have active regen and battery packs of their own."Sounds good, and furthers the small-but-mighty mantra that a brand like Telo will have to champion to win buyers.Source: TeloSource: TeloBeing that the MT1 weighs around 4,400 pounds, the 8k tow capacity is impressive. Remember, folks, towing capacity is about more than just sheer power. In order to achieve an SAE-approved towing figure, the truck's chassis and brakes are more important than how much grunt it touts. The MT1 is said to have 300-500 horsepower (depending on trim; figures TBD), but again, this matters less than powerful stoppers and a rigid chassis. One of the keys is pushing the wheels as far to the corners as possible; this reduces the leverage the tongue weight has on the suspension.AdvertisementAdvertisementTelo is touting the MT1 can out-tow the Ford F-150, which is true to an extent. Entry-level, base F-150s with the 2.7L V6 can only pull 7,400-7,600 pounds, so the 8,000-pound maximum rating that Telo touts is, in fact, accurate as viable one-upsmanship. Ignore the fact that F-150s can tow up to 13,500 pounds when configured in certain ways and that the 2.7L V6 will no longer be the F-150's entry level engine by the time the MT1 effectively reaches market.Then again, Telo is aiming for a $41,520 base MSRP, while the F-150 Lightning (which is now dead, we might add) starts at $54,780.In the video provided by Telo, we can definitely see the MT1 squatting under the load of the trailer used. Might be time for a weight-distributing hitch or a more appropriate payload. Hopefully they give us more details before the vehicle's slated release by the end of 2026.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.