Cars what does bhp mean

However, Brake Horsepower bhp is often used as a more realistic measurement of power. This is because bhp considers the power left after other car parts are working such as the gearbox, alternator, and water pump as well as any loss of power due to friction. Another common engine measurement to see is PS. This stands for the German word Pferdstarke which when translated means horse strength. This was an attempt at making hp metric.

In this measurement 1 PS is the equivalent of Even though bhp is the most widely recognised measurement of engine power, in the European Union selected kilowatts kW as the official measure. However, this tends to be a smaller number so many manufacturers stick to using bhp. For instance, the engine power of an Aston Martin DB9 can be expressed as bhp or kW … the bhp figure sounds much more impressive, but both represent the same amount of power.

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Tips and advice 10 Aug Electric car charging stations: a complete guide. Tips and advice 5 Nov PCP vs HP — which type of car finance is right for you? Tips and advice 29 Sep Average speed cameras: how do they work? Torque is another measurement sometimes quoted to gauge the potential power of a vehicle.

It is measured in Nm or Newton Metres and measures the amount of force required to twist an object such as a crankshaft. The more torque, the greater the pulling power of the engine and the more acceleration possible. A higher torque number allows a speedier acceleration from standstill, more power when overtaking and the ability to carry or tow heavier loads. Previously, engine size was a key measure for the power of any given vehicle.

However, with modern engine technology, you may have a lower engine size, such as 1. For example, eco friendly engines often have direct fuel injection methods and a turbocharger added to them.

We hope this has helped explain a little more about the power of engines, and you now know the answer to your question, "what does PS stand for in cars?

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