Convert kW to hp
Please provide values below to convert kilowatt [kW] to horsepower [hp], or vice versa.
Kilowatt
Definition: A kilowatt (symbol: kW) is a unit of power in the International System of Units (SI). It is equal to 1,000 watts, which means it represents the energy consumption rate of 1,000 joules per second.
History/origin: The kilowatt is derived from the watt, which was named after Scottish inventor James Watt, who was a key contributor to the development of the steam engine. The watt was adopted as the unit of power in the International System of Units in 1960. The prefix "kilo" was added to denote 1,000 watts, following the standard metric system prefixing convention.
Current use: Kilowatts are widely used to express the power output or consumption of engines, electric motors, tools, and other machines. Electrical energy consumption is often measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), which represents the amount of energy equivalent to a power of one kilowatt operating for one hour. The kilowatt is used globally as part of the SI system of measurement and is particularly common in scientific, engineering, and technical applications where precision in power measurement is important.
Horsepower
Definition: Horsepower (symbol: hp) is a unit of measurement of power, or the rate at which work is done. There are several different standards and types of horsepower. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 746 watts.
History/origin: The term "horsepower" was coined by engineer James Watt in the late 18th century to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses. Watt determined that a horse could turn a mill wheel 144 times in an hour (or 2.4 times a minute), with the wheel having a radius of 12 feet. This gave a value for horsepower of 33,000 foot-pounds per minute, which has since become the standard imperial value for horsepower.
Current use: Despite the development of the SI system and introduction of the watt as the standard unit of power, horsepower remains widely used as a unit of measurement for engines, particularly in the automotive industry. Horsepower continues to be used for rating automobile engines, electric motors, and in various industrial applications. It is also commonly used in the United States and other countries for measuring engine power for vehicles, aircraft, and watercraft.