Ford-class speed and the shipwide power budget

How fast could a Ford-class carrier go if it really had to?

Possibly into the high forty-knot range, but any higher-speed estimate is uncertain and would compete with the ship's other electrical demands.

The high-forty-knot figure is a speculative estimate rather than a declared speed. Enterprise had a narrow, speed-oriented hull, while later carrier designs placed more emphasis on stability. A Ford-class ship might be able to push harder, but doing so would divert electrical power from hotel loads and other power-hungry systems. Maximum speed is therefore part of managing a modern warship's total energy budget.