About Kilowatts (kW) to Brake Horsepower (BHP) Conversion

What are Kilowatts and Brake Horsepower?

Kilowatts (kW) and brake horsepower (BHP) are both units used to measure power, but they are used in different contexts:

• Kilowatt (kW): A unit of power in the International System of Units (SI). It's commonly used to measure electrical power and the power output of engines in many parts of the world.
• Brake Horsepower (BHP): A unit of power commonly used in the automotive industry, especially in the United States and the United Kingdom. It represents the amount of power an engine can produce without the loss in power caused by the gearbox, generator, differential, water pump, and other auxiliary components.

Formula for Kilowatts to Brake Horsepower Conversion

The formula to convert kilowatts to brake horsepower is:

\[BHP = kW \times 1.34102\]

Where:

• \(BHP\) is the power in brake horsepower
• \(kW\) is the power in kilowatts
• \(1.34102\) is the conversion factor

Calculation Steps

1. Identify the power in kilowatts.
2. Multiply the kilowatt value by 1.34102.
3. The result is the equivalent power in brake horsepower.

Example

Let's convert 75 kilowatts to brake horsepower:

1. Given: \(kW = 75\)
2. Apply the formula: \(BHP = 75 \times 1.34102\)
3. Calculate: \(BHP = 100.5765\)
4. Rounding to 2 decimal places: \(BHP \approx 100.58\)

Visual representation:

Therefore, 75 kilowatts is equivalent to approximately 100.58 brake horsepower.