Ford, for its part, told us it's aware of some discrepancies between the three displays, but we haven't noticed any improvement in the months since our initial inquiry.

Bad: Don't Lieto Me

Here's something else odd we noticed: If we charge our F-150 Lightning to 100 percent on a Level 3 DC fast charger, we'll usually get an estimated range in the ballpark of 230 to 245 miles, depending on how we've been driving the truck lately. However, if we run the battery down slightly to 99 percent and plug into a Level 2 AC charger or Level 1 wall outlet, by the time the battery hits 100 percent again, the range-to-empty will display between 320 and 326 miles. Surely that 1 percent jolt of AC juice isn't good for an extra 81 miles, is it? What gives?

A spokesperson told us that in the spring Ford had "updated how range is displayed to our customers above 80 percent state of charge [on] Level 1 and 2 [chargers], to showwhat range is possiblefor long trips according to the EPA standard.… As the battery energy depletes, the range figure will update according to the conditions and driving style. " It's worth noting that EPA range is based on a mix of 55 percent urban and 45 percent highway driving.

In other words, if you plug your F-150 Lightning into a Level 1 or 2 charger and charge it above 80 percent, the truck's range meter will display an unrealistically high range estimate. This would be like Ford telling Mustang GT owners their cars can clear 288 miles on a full tank of 87 octane but 190 miles on a tank of premium, but only in the case they fill up past three-quarters of a tank. To quote the great Ricky Bobby inTalladega Nights, "With all due respect, that idea ain't worth a velvet painting of a whale and a dolphin getting it on."

Good: Plug and Charge

Let's end on a positive note, shall we? We love the Lightning's ability to plug and charge— much like Tesla owners do at Superchargers—at Electrify America and EVgo stations. With a credit card saved to our Ford's profile in the FordPass app (for EA stations) and in the EVgo app, it's really convenient to pull up to a charger, plug in, and not have to fiddle with apps, key tags, or credit card readers. Anecdotally, we've also found that plug and charge seems to somewhat improve the reliability of Electrify America stations, as it removes the credit card and NFC readers—common points of failure—from the equation.

For More on Our Long-Term 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat:

MotorTrend's 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat
SERVICE LIFE	9 mo/12,781 mi
BASE/AS TESTED PRICE	$69,269/$80,889
OPTIONS	Equipment Group 511A ($10,000: extended-range battery, Blue Cruise, Tow Technology package, twin-panel moonroof), Max Tow package ($825: onboard scales with Smart Hitch, integrated trailer brake controller); Toughbed spray-in bedliner ($595); tray-style floor liner with carpeted mats ($200)
EPA CTY/HWY/CMB FUEL ECON; CMB RANGE	78/63/70 mpg-e; 320 miles
AVERAGE MILES/KWH	1.9 mi/kWh
ENERGY COST PER MILE	$0.21
MAINTENANCE AND WEAR	$53.28 (3/23: windshield washer fluid, $3.28; 4/23: tire rotation and inspection for first service, $50)
DAMAGES	$199.95 (4/23: four-wheel alignment after off-roading, $199.95)
DAYS OUT OF SERVICE/WITHOUT LOANER	2/0
DELIGHTS	We love the Ram 1500's RamBoxes, but having a full-on frunk is kind of a game changer.
ANNOYANCES	We've yet to see anything close to the EPA's 320-mile estimated range.
RECALLS	1:(NHTSA Recall 23V418: Microscopic cracks may form in the rear light bar causing the reverse lamps to fail; fix to be implemented by the fourth quarter of 2023. )