The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning is an exciting electric pickup truck in many ways, including its looks. But although it resembles any other F-150 on the outside, the Lightning is a high-tech truck on the inside. Here’s a look at one big interior upgrade the Lightning boasts that its siblings cannot.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning’s huge touchscreen

Glowing inside the Ford F-150 Lightning’s cabin, a massive central touchscreen ties the whole truck together. This 15.5-inch vertical display controls all the high-tech gear that lies inside the belly of the Lightning, MotorTrend reports. 

For comparison’s sake, the current conventional F-150 comes with an 8.0-inch touchscreen. Ford offers shoppers the option to upgrade to a 12.0-inch touchscreen — still smaller than the Lightning’s screen by a couple of inches.

And though size matters, the system’s capability also matters. Ford has that covered too: According to MotorTrend, the Lightning’s 15.5-inch touchscreen system, including software upgrades, makes it the “smartest and most connected truck in Ford’s lineup.”

What can the Ford F-150 Lightning’s touchscreen do?

Off the bat, the F-150 Lightning’s tech upgrades allow it to receive over-the-air updates more easily. This capability will allow Ford to quickly address issues with the Lightning’s software, provide upgrades to that software, and generally keep the truck up-to-date. Keeping an EV updated is vital because Ford owners, like Tesla owners, can view current maps of charging stations.

Ford calls the F-150 Lightning’s smart capability Intelligent Range. This feature tells drivers the best places to recharge while they’re on the road, MotorTrend reports. Furthermore, it can intelligently estimate how much battery juice is left by doing some complex math.

For example, Intelligent Range can look at how much payload the truck is carrying and adjust its range estimate accordingly. The Lightning can also determine exactly how much payload it’s carrying thanks to new onboard sensors. Intelligent Range also factors in other aspects such as weather and driving habits.

And that big touchscreen will also control BlueCruise — Ford’s answer to Tesla’s Autopilot.

How the Blue Oval’s electric truck stacks up

Many of those smart features are not only nice perks but also necessities. That’s because the Ford F-150 Lightning must compete with other electric trucks. And so far, they’re all high-tech and fancy. Tesla is already known for its large touchscreen that commands its vehicles’ smart systems, and Ford needed to do that, too, if it wanted to compete. The Hummer EV is in a similar boat, and it’s even more high-tech than the Lightning.

That said, the Lightning’s main draw probably won’t be its 15.5-inch touchscreen or smart features. Rather, the main attraction will likely be the numbers.

The standard F-150 Lightning has a regular-sized truck bed and can travel 230 miles on a full charge. Not only that, but it also starts at about $40,000 before tax credits. This price point makes it extremely competitive, but of course, the Lightning’s got options. Fully equipped, it can tow up to 10,000 pounds, carry a 2,000-pound payload, and boast a max range of 300 miles. Those numbers alone make the Ford F-150 Lightning a highly desirable truck.