kW to HP converter
Convert engine power from kilowatts to horsepower, in both mechanical (hp) and metric (PS) units.
kW to HP converter: what it is and how it works
Engine power is officially stated in kilowatts (kW), the SI unit, and that is how it appears on vehicle documents. In advertising and everyday speech, however, horsepower is still used. There are two kinds: mechanical horsepower (hp), used in the UK and US, worth 745.7 watts, and metric horsepower (PS or CV), used in continental Europe, worth 735.5 watts.
So a 100 kW engine produces 134 hp, or 136 PS. Electric cars usually state power in kW; with this converter you can easily compare them with petrol or diesel cars.
How to use it
- Enter the power.
- Choose the source unit (kW) and the target unit (hp, PS or W).
- Read the converted power and its equivalent in the other units.
hp = kW × 1.34102 · PS = kW × 1.35962Worked example
A 100 kW engine produces 134.10 hp or 135.96 PS. A 150 kW electric car is about 201 hp.
Frequently asked questions
How many hp is 1 kW?
1 kW equals 1.34102 mechanical horsepower (hp) and 1.35962 metric horsepower (PS).
What is the difference between hp and PS?
Mechanical hp is 745.7 W and metric PS is 735.5 W, so one hp is slightly more than one PS.
Which figure appears on vehicle documents?
Maximum power in kW. Horsepower figures usually appear in brochures and adverts.
What is bhp?
Brake horsepower: power measured at the crankshaft, generally expressed in mechanical hp.