Metric Horsepower to Kilowatts Converter

Relationship Between Metric Horsepower and Kilowatt

The conversion between metric horsepower (PS) and kilowatt (kW) is a fundamental power unit conversion within metric systems.

1 PS = 735.49875 W

Since 1 kW = 1,000 W,

1 PS = 0.7355 kW

Therefore,

1 kW = 1.35962 PS

To convert metric horsepower to kilowatts, we multiply the value in PS by 0.7355 (or divide by 1.35962).

For example, 1 PS equals approximately 0.7355 kW, and 100 PS equals approximately 73.55 kW. A typical car engine producing 150 PS is equivalent to approximately 110 kW.

Quick Reference:
Metric horsepower (PS) is commonly used in Europe, especially in Germany and other European countries for automotive engines and motors. The kilowatt is the standard metric unit used worldwide for larger power measurements. Understanding metric horsepower to kilowatt conversion is essential for comparing engine and motor ratings across different European measurement standards.

Metric Horsepower (PS)

What is Metric Horsepower?

Metric horsepower (symbol: PS, from the German Pferdestärke) is a unit of power used in Europe, especially in Germany and other European countries. It is defined as exactly 735.49875 watts, making it slightly different from mechanical horsepower (hp), which is 745.699872 watts. Metric horsepower is commonly used for automotive engines and motors in European markets.

Historical Background

Metric horsepower was developed in Europe as a metric equivalent to mechanical horsepower. It was standardized as exactly 735.49875 watts, which is approximately 98.6% of mechanical horsepower. The symbol PS comes from the German term Pferdestärke, meaning horse strength. Metric horsepower is widely used in European automotive industry and specifications.

Comparison with Mechanical Horsepower

• Metric horsepower (PS): Equal to 735.49875 W, commonly used in Europe
• Mechanical horsepower (hp): Equal to 745.699872 W, commonly used in the United States and United Kingdom
• Difference: 1 PS = 0.9863 hp, or 1 hp = 1.01387 PS
• The difference is about 1.4%, which can be significant in high-performance applications

Common Applications

• Automotive (Europe): Car engines (100-700 PS typical), trucks (200-600 PS), motorcycles (50-200 PS)
• Marine: Boat engines in Europe, outboard motors
• Industrial: Manufacturing equipment, pumps, compressors in Europe
• Agricultural: Tractors and farm equipment in Europe
• Aircraft: Small aircraft engines in Europe
• Construction: Heavy machinery in Europe
• Power tools: Large industrial tools in Europe
• Racing: High-performance vehicles in European racing
• Marine propulsion: Ship engines in Europe
• Power generation: Backup generators in Europe

European Standards

In Europe, especially in Germany and other European countries, metric horsepower (PS) is the standard unit for engine and motor ratings. Understanding metric horsepower to kilowatt conversion is essential for comparing power ratings across different systems, especially when working with European specifications or converting between metric units.

Kilowatt (kW)

What is a Kilowatt?

The kilowatt (symbol: kW) is a unit of power equal to 1,000 watts (1 kW = 1,000 W). It is commonly used to measure larger power values such as household appliances, electric motors, power generation, and energy consumption. The kilowatt provides convenient numerical values for power measurements that would be cumbersome to express in watts.

Power Measurement

As a metric unit, the kilowatt is part of the International System of Units (SI). 1 kW = 1,000 W = 1,000 J/s. The kilowatt is widely used in electrical engineering, energy management, and power generation because it provides manageable numbers for typical power values encountered in practice.

Common Applications

• Household power consumption: Average home uses 1-2 kW, peak usage 5-10 kW
• Electric appliances: Electric water heaters (3-5 kW), air conditioners (2-5 kW), electric stoves (2-4 kW)
• Electric motors: Industrial motors (1-100 kW), vehicle motors (50-300 kW)
• Power generation: Solar panel systems (1-10 kW residential, 100 kW-1 MW commercial)
• Wind power: Small turbines (1-10 kW), large turbines (1-5 MW)
• Energy storage: Home battery systems (5-20 kW), grid-scale storage (MW to GW)
• Electric vehicles: Charging stations (7-50 kW standard, 150-350 kW fast charging)
• Industrial equipment: Manufacturing machinery (10-500 kW), pumps and compressors (5-100 kW)
• Commercial buildings: Office buildings (50-500 kW), shopping centers (500 kW-5 MW)
• Power distribution: Residential service (10-50 kW), commercial service (100 kW-1 MW)

Kilowatt-Hour (kWh)

The kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy commonly used for electricity billing. It represents the amount of energy consumed when a power of 1 kilowatt is used for 1 hour. For example, a 1 kW appliance running for 1 hour consumes 1 kWh of energy. Understanding the relationship between watts and kilowatts is essential for calculating energy consumption and electricity costs.

Conversion Benefits

Understanding kilowatt values helps in energy management, electrical system design, and power consumption analysis. The kilowatt provides convenient values for expressing power ratings of appliances, motors, and electrical systems, making it easier to understand and compare power requirements.

Metric Horsepower to Kilowatt Conversion Table

Common metric horsepower to kilowatt conversions for reference: