Kilowatt to Horsepower Converter

Converting from kilowatts to horsepower (kW to hp) is particularly useful when comparing engine power specifications across different regions. Kilowatts are the standard unit of power in the International System of Units (SI) and are widely used in Europe and many other parts of the world, while horsepower is commonly used in the United States and some other countries, especially in the automotive industry.

Conversion Formula

To convert from kilowatts to horsepower, multiply the power value by 1.34102. The formula is:

hp = kW × 1.34102

Common Kilowatt to Horsepower Conversions

Practical Examples

Here are some practical examples of kilowatt to horsepower conversions:

• A 75 kW electric motor produces approximately 100.58 hp (75 × 1.34102 = 100.58).
• A 110 kW car engine is equivalent to about 147.51 hp (110 × 1.34102 = 147.51).
• A 250 kW industrial generator provides approximately 335.26 hp (250 × 1.34102 = 335.26).
• A 1.5 kW household appliance uses about 2.01 hp (1.5 × 1.34102 = 2.01).

Understanding Horsepower

Horsepower was originally defined by James Watt in the 18th century as the power needed to lift 550 pounds by 1 foot in 1 second, or equivalently, 33,000 foot-pounds per minute. This was based on Watt's estimation of the power output of a draft horse, which he used to market his steam engines.

Today, there are several definitions of horsepower in use, including:

• Mechanical/Imperial horsepower: 1 hp = 745.7 watts (commonly used in the US and UK)
• Metric horsepower (PS or cv): 1 PS = 735.5 watts (commonly used in Europe and Japan)
• Electrical horsepower: 1 hp = 746 watts (used for electric motors)
• Boiler horsepower: 1 bhp = 9,809.5 watts (used for rating steam boilers)

Our converter uses the mechanical/imperial definition of horsepower (745.7 watts) for conversions, as this is the most commonly used definition in the automotive industry.