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What is a metric horsepower?

European car-marketing power unit — 735.5 watts

Definition

Metric horsepower (PS in German, ch in French) equals 735.5 watts. It is the standard power unit in European car marketing — a "200 PS" car has 147 kW. Slightly smaller than mechanical horsepower (1.4%).

Common uses

  • European car and motorcycle ratings
  • Italian and German engine specs
  • Some European industrial equipment

🌍 Real-world scale

VW Golf GTI: ~245 PS = 180 kW. BMW M3: ~480 PS = 353 kW.

Convert from metric horsepower

7 conversions
Metric Horsepower to Watt1 PS = 735.499 WMetric Horsepower to Kilowatt1 PS = 0.7355 kWMetric Horsepower to Megawatt1 PS = 0.0007355 MWMetric Horsepower to Mechanical Horsepower1 PS = 0.9863 hpMetric Horsepower to BTU per Hour1 PS = 2,509.63 BTU/hMetric Horsepower to Foot-Pound per Second1 PS = 542.476 ft·lbf/sMetric Horsepower to Volt-Ampere1 PS = 735.499 VA

Convert to metric horsepower

7 conversions
Watt to Metric Horsepower1 W = 0.00136 PSKilowatt to Metric Horsepower1 kW = 1.35962 PSMegawatt to Metric Horsepower1 MW = 1,359.62 PSMechanical Horsepower to Metric Horsepower1 hp = 1.01387 PSBTU per Hour to Metric Horsepower1 BTU/h = 0.0003985 PSFoot-Pound per Second to Metric Horsepower1 ft·lbf/s = 0.001843 PSVolt-Ampere to Metric Horsepower1 VA = 0.00136 PS

Tips

  • 1 PS = 735.5 W = 0.9863 hp.
  • PS is ~1.4% smaller than mechanical hp.
  • Look for "PS" in German car brochures; "ch" in French.

Common mistakes

  • Treating PS and hp as equal — 1.4% off.
  • Using PS in US markets — unfamiliar to consumers.
  • Mixing PS and kW without conversion.

FAQ about the metric horsepower

What is a metric horsepower?
Metric horsepower (PS in German, ch in French) equals 735.5 watts. It is the standard power unit in European car marketing — a "200 PS" car has 147 kW. Slightly smaller than mechanical horsepower (1.4%).
Where is the metric horsepower used?
The metric horsepower is commonly used for: European car and motorcycle ratings; Italian and German engine specs; Some European industrial equipment.
What is an example of a metric horsepower in real life?
VW Golf GTI: ~245 PS = 180 kW. BMW M3: ~480 PS = 353 kW.
What category does the metric horsepower belong to?
The metric horsepower is a unit of power, part of the 8-unit power category on UnitConv.
How accurate are metric horsepower conversions?
All conversion factors follow NIST and BIPM international standards to 8 significant figures — the highest practical accuracy.
Explore all 8 power units and their conversions.⚡ Power hub →