What is horsepower? What are the differences between HP and PS?
What is Horsepower?
In other words, horsepower is a way to measure the power of motor vehicles. It’s a way to express how much power a car can produce and how fast it can accelerate. The higher the number the more power goes to the wheels, and the faster the car will go theoretically. Speed can also be affected by other factors. For a heavy car to move, it will require more horsepower. The lighter car, if it produces 200 horsepower but weighs 500kg more, will move faster.
History of Horsepower, (HP)
This term is only used for automobiles today. It dates back to ancient times. James Watt, a famous inventor who lived between 1736-1819, was the first to use horsepower in history. Famous inventor James Watt attempted to explain the power and potential of engines by comparing the power of steam engines with horses during the time when they were first produced.
You can define horse power with the following simple expression:
It’s the amount of power required for a 75-kg load to be moved 1 meter in a matter of seconds. The letters HP signify horsepower. Brake horsepower (BHP/Brake horse power) refers to the power that is taken from the engine’s flywheel. It measures the power at the wheels. It is used for calculating the motor’s energy loss from friction. These power units can’t be interchanged. Brake horsepower will always remain lower. Compare to 1HP = 986BHP and 1BHP = 1.14HP.
The PS and kW are two other common engine power units. These units measure the engine’s actual power. These metrics will be required to compare the power units of different cars to determine the correct ratio.
One horsepower is equal to 745.7 watts (0.7457kW), but this measurement is rarely used. An example of a 400hp sportscar can be described as 298 kW.
Other vehicles may have different horsepower. This is because the horsepower that reaches the wheels goes through many systems before it reaches this place. The transmission of horsepower to wheels depends on the number of gears used in car components. What engine the vehicle uses, whether it is gasoline or diesel, what size the wheels are, etc. Technical differences can have an impact on the transmitted power.
PS vs.
PS is the most widely used unit of measurement by German automakers, and across Europe. Its popularity is declining as the EU accepts kW as a unit of power. While it may seem strange for the EU that such a unit of power is being used, it seems to be logical given the widespread use electric vehicles. The unit of electrical power is kW. As electric cars become more popular, so consumers will be able to better understand the power of these vehicles.
1HP = 1.014PS
1PS = 0.986HP
BHP vs. HP
As explained, Hp is measured in different places. Hp stands for the power output of motors. Bhp refers to the power measured at the wheels. These two measurements are not exact. There may be some power loss due to frictions and internal losses. Bhp will always be lower.
1HP = 0.986BHP
1BHP = 1.014HP
HP vs Torque
Many automakers place emphasis on the horsepower of their vehicles. You will find the power of torque if you do some deeper research. Torque is usually measured in Nm (Newton Meter), or lb/ft (“pound-foot”) to indicate how strong a car can produce. This power can either be measured from the engine, or from the wheels. This is how fast your vehicle accelerates. The vehicle’s torque is a measure of how quickly your wheels turn.
