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There's a difference between peak horsepower output and continuous horsepower output. A normal passenger car might be able to put out 300 hp, but only for a sho
by tsomctl 6y ago
There's a difference between peak horsepower output and continuous horsepower output. A normal passenger car might be able to put out 300 hp, but only for a short period of time before blowing the headgasket (or destroying the drive train). Diesel engine with gobs of torque or electric is going to produce that power at a lower speed and more efficiently, so it will be able to do it longer. Being able to put out 70hp nonstop for hours on end is nothing to be ashamed of.
- sandworm101 6y agoA modern engine will run at full hp for extended periods, hundreds of hours. In many ways, lower power settings at lower rpms can be harder on engines than running flat out. In a family car, the cooling system would drop the ball long before anything as substantial as a head gasket. It would overheat long before any actual damage.
- tsomctl 6y agoHundreds of hours, perhaps. But not for the entire life of the engine. If a modern passenger car engine could put out 200 hp nonstop for years on end, every semi-truck manufacturer would be putting a BMW engine in it, instead of a huge cast iron Cummins. But I'm pretty sure you'd spin a bearing, or wear out the cylinder liner, or burn a valve.
- throwaway0a5e 6y agoIf you tuned a semi engine for peak power the way automotive engines are they wouldn't last 400k either. You can get automotive engines with similar power to weight or power to displacement numbers as semi truck engines. They're just normal automotive engines sold for industrial use.
- tsomctl 6y agoI guess I’m not articulating myself well, because I’m basically agreeing with you.
- jessaustin 6y agoTFA said "40 horsepower continuously and, in short durations, peak power reaches 70 horsepower." This is a 40hp tractor.