I Didn’t Need 400 Horsepower, What I Needed Was My Cadillac LYRIQ to Get Me Home Without Charging

There’s a growing EV debate on social media about the importance of real-world usability versus performance. In one camp, there’s a growing consensus that real-world usability matters more than performance specs in the EV buying decision. Those in a second camp believe that higher horsepower does not necessarily reduce range if the vehicle is driven efficiently, and some point out that large motors can enhance regenerative braking and improve overall efficiency. The discussions often wonder into related subjects like charging speeds,  infrastructure, and other factors that can outweigh raw battery capacity.

Here’s a recent post on Reddit by janetcw about whether range is more important than horsepower in an SUV. 

“While shopping for my next SUV - a luxury EV like Cadillac Lyric or Audi Q6 e-tron - I notice many of the reviews and specs and ads highlight HP, torque, and 0-60 in x.x seconds, and sometimes I have to really search the site for the range. And, the automakers are producing a model with less range/more HP, in addition to a model with less HP/more range (which I appreciate). I get why you lose range when you increase horsepower.

So my question is, for an SUV, why isn't range the more important feature? We'll be using the luxury SUV to take long trips, and the smaller Genesis GV60 for local back/forth, around town. So range is REALLY important to me! I love that we have more and more charging stations, and after a few trips in the GV60 we have gotten over our range anxiety. But I still don't wanna stop 7 times for 30 mins to go 500 miles, you know?! (Probably exaggerating there, but you know what I mean..)”

ATotalCassegrain responded with: 

“Making an electric car go fast is cheap and easy. 

Making an electric car go 500 miles on a charge is expensive and hard. 

Simple as that.”

LastEntertainment684 added:

“This really is the short and sweet of it.

Electric motors we have pretty well figured out. It’s fairly easy to pick one that hits the horsepower/rpm figures you’re looking for.

Range is where it gets difficult.

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Sure you can build a ~450 mile EV SUV, but you’re either building it with the biggest heaviest battery possible (hello GM) or trying to build the most efficient SUV possible (hello Lucid). Either way, with current technology, you’re looking at pretty expensive vehicles.”

tuba_full_of_flowers got into the psychology: 

“Range is practical, horsepower provides a feeling of superiority between red lights. The feeling of superiority drives luxury purchases more than practicality, so you end up with horsepower getting prioritized on luxury vehicles”

alphatauri555 responded with: 

“Yeah I think it's sort of a relic of ICE vehicles, where luxury vehicles have higher power and less efficiency (fuel economy). And every buyer knows and accepts this about gas engines. Now manufacturers are simply following the same playbook with EV.”

When considering electric vehicles, many customers are drawn to maximum range figures, which are often emphasized in marketing and spec sheets. However, for long-distance travel, the most important factors are typically charging speed and the availability of fast-charging stations. A vehicle with slightly less range but the ability to add hundreds of miles in under 20 minutes can be more practical than one with a longer range but slow charging times. This has led to a growing shift in consumer awareness, especially among those who regularly take road trips. To address this debate, automotive manufacturers are investing in 800-volt architectures, more efficient thermal management systems, and faster battery charging technologies. Companies like Hyundai, Porsche, and GM are prioritizing high-speed charging capabilities in their new EV platforms. Meanwhile, manufacturers are also partnering with charging networks to expand infrastructure, aiming to make fast charging more reliable and accessible, which directly enhances long-distance usability.

Now that typical EV ranges are creeping to 250 to 300 miles, we are seeing a new phenomenon. Range anxiety is giving way to a growing concern known as “charging anxiety.” With longer EV ranges, drivers are increasingly confident in their vehicles' ability to cover long distances. However, the uncertainty now centers around whether they will find a working, fast, and available charging station when needed. On road trips, the limiting factor is no longer how far a car can travel on a charge, but how reliably and quickly it can recharge. Charging infrastructure has become the new frontier of EV convenience.

Please Drop Your Thoughts in the Comments Below

If you had to choose, would you rather have an EV that charges faster or one that drives farther on a full charge? Why?

Has charging speed or range ever changed your road trip plans in an EV? What happened?

Chris Johnston is the author of SAE’s comprehensive book on electric vehicles, "The Arrival of The Electric Car." His coverage on Torque News focuses on electric vehicles. Chris has decades of product management experience in telematics, mobile computing, and wireless communications. Chris has a B.S. in electrical engineering from Purdue University and an MBA. He lives in Seattle. When not working, Chris enjoys restoring classic wooden boats, open water swimming, cycling and flying (as a private pilot). You can connect with Chris on LinkedIn and follow his work on X at ChrisJohnstonEV.

Image sources: Cadillac media kit