Convert Metric Horsepower to Kilowatts
Metric horsepower to kilowatts is the conversion you need when a European engine is rated in PS (also written CV or 'Pferdestärke') and you want the tidier kilowatt figure carmakers list alongside it. One metric horsepower is exactly 0.73549875 kilowatts, so the kilowatt number always comes out a bit smaller.
Metric horsepower (PS) to Kilowatts conversion table
| Metric horsepower (PS) (PS) | Kilowatts (kW) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0.735499 |
| 2 | 1.470998 |
| 3 | 2.206496 |
| 5 | 3.677494 |
| 10 | 7.354987 |
| 20 | 14.709975 |
| 50 | 36.774938 |
| 100 | 73.549875 |
| 500 | 367.749375 |
| 1,000 | 735.49875 |
The formula
To convert metric horsepower to kilowatts, multiply the number of metric horsepower by 0.73549875:
kilowatts = metric horsepower × 0.73549875
A worked example
Say you have a 100 PS engine and want its power in kilowatts:
100 × 0.73549875 = 73.549875 kW
So 100 metric horsepower is exactly 73.549875 kilowatts.
Why the number is exact
Metric horsepower is a defined unit, not a rounded one. One metric horsepower (PS, or CV, from the German "Pferdestärke") is defined as exactly 75 kilogram-force meters per second, which is exactly 735.49875 watts — that is, exactly 0.73549875 kilowatts. Because the definition fixes the value precisely, converting from metric horsepower to kilowatts is exact, with nothing rounded away.
When you'll use it
Reading the kilowatt rating next to the PS figure on a European car spec sheet, filling in registration or tax paperwork that wants power in kW, and comparing an engine rated in metric horsepower against one rated in kilowatts.
Frequently asked questions
How many kilowatts are in one metric horsepower?
Exactly 0.73549875 kilowatts. Metric horsepower is defined as 75 kgf·m/s, which is exactly 735.49875 W, or 0.73549875 kW — nothing is rounded.
Why do European car specs list both PS and kW?
Metric horsepower (PS) is the traditional figure buyers recognize, while the kilowatt is the SI unit that appears on registration and tax paperwork. Since 1 PS is exactly 0.73549875 kW, both describe the same power.
Is the metric horsepower to kilowatts conversion exact?
Yes. Metric horsepower is defined as exactly 75 kgf·m/s, which is exactly 0.73549875 kW, so the conversion is exact with nothing rounded away.