Your description literally shows why it's more complicated. More connections, more moving parts, and pesky electrons to manage. Not everything needs to be reinvented and computerized.
Being from the frozen tundra, I'm less concerned about solar heat gain and solar charging. From working as an engineer in building materials, the added costs of focusing on those things are rarely offset by the savings over the life of the product. I also want a truck to do "truck things," which...