Slate will offer a high roof cargo version of its compact pickup – and you can buy it!

This is auto industry news, not a home energy story, but here's what happened: Slate Auto, the company behind a stripped-down $25,000 electric pickup, is adding a high-roof cargo topper that anyone can buy, not just fleet and government customers. The kit will come in two styles: a standard square back matching Slate's existing SUV cargo option, and a new high-roof version with a spoiler cap that replaces the top of the cab for a smoother roofline. Both come in white or black, buyers can remove the rear cab glass and bulkhead, and side panels come in three choices, blank, glass, or glass with lift struts and locks. Pricing starts around $3,000.

Company representatives said fleet and municipal buyers are already picturing custom builds like refrigeration units, slide-outs, and even vending machines mounted on the truck. Slate also said its next-generation truck will keep the same basic dimensions, so aftermarket parts built for today's model should still fit later versions.

None of this affects home electrical, solar, or heat pump upgrades. If you're weighing an EV purchase alongside home energy work, the relevant detail here is just that Slate's cheap electric pickup is getting more customization options as the company works toward its first deliveries.