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Horsepower (which has many definitions) is the torque output multiplied by the engine RPM (divided by some number to make it equal to the strength of an average
by LeonM 7y ago
Horsepower (which has many definitions) is the torque output multiplied by the engine RPM (divided by some number to make it equal to the strength of an average horse). Since these engines operate in a relatively low RPM range, the HP number is not that high. Most countries switched to using kilowatts as a measure of vehicle engine power.
Also remember that these are diesel engines from the late 1930's. This was before the development of 2-stroke (blown) or even turbocharged diesel engines. These engines were a lot less powerful compared to modern diesel engines.
- matt-attack 7y agoThe kilowatt measures precisely the same thing as horsepower. 1HP is approx 3/4 kW.
- LeifCarrotson 7y agoKilowatts are also a multiplication of RPM and torque - one horsepower is 0.7457 kW, no RPM factor required. High-redline gas engines compared to diesels will have more kilowatts than torque regardless of which system of measurement you use. You need low-speed torque with low fuel consumption to work at relatively high power output efficiently for long durations.
- LeonM 7y agoThat is correct. kW is used the same way as HP, except that kW is better standardized. There are many definitions of how much power a horse has, and just one definition of the watt. For example: the 'mechanical' HP (commonly used in the US) is the equivalent of 0.7457kW, but the 'metric' HP (commonly used in Europe) is 0.7345kW [0]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower#Definitions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower#Definitions
- SigmundA 7y agoThey are both units of power the fact that they have different numbers does not have bearing on the question asked, power is power, torque is torque regardless of units.