How to Convert Horsepower to kW

The term horsepower was used to describe power in a unit familiar to most people.

Both horsepower (hp) and kilowatts (kw) are units of power. As such, converting between the two is a straightforward calculation. The term horsepower was coined by the Scottish engineer James Watt to market steam engines in a power rating familiar to most people of the time. One horsepower is equivalent to 746 watts, or 0.746 kilowatts. The term watt was named after James Watt.

Instructions

1. Reference the horsepower of the engine. This is usually listed on the specification list of the owner's manual.

2. Use the formula: Kilowatts equals horsepower multiplied by 0.746.

3. Plug in your data to perform the calculation. As an example, if you referenced that your car had a burly 400 horsepower, then you would multiply 400 by 0.746. This equates to 298.4 kilowatts.

References

• Convert Units: Convert Kilowatt to Horsepower
• Britannica: Horsepower