Converting horsepower to watts is useful for comparing the power of a combustion engine to that of an electric motor, sizing an electrical installation or interpreting an industrial machine technical specification.
1 metric horsepower (CV) equals 735.499 watts. 1 mechanical horsepower (HP) equals 745.7 watts. To convert metric CV to watts, multiply by 735.499.
📐 Formula
Watts = CV (metric) × 735.499
Watts = HP (mechanical) × 745.7
📊 Reference table
| CV (metric) | Watts (W) | HP (mechanical) | Watts (W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 735.5 | 1 | 745.7 |
| 5 | 3677.5 | 5 | 3728.5 |
| 10 | 7355.0 | 10 | 7457.0 |
| 50 | 36750 | 50 | 37285 |
| 100 | 73550 | 100 | 74570 |
| 150 | 110325 | 150 | 111855 |
| 200 | 147100 | 200 | 149140 |
| 300 | 220650 | 300 | 223710 |
💡 Practical examples
Example 1: 100 CV (standard car)
100 × 735.499 ≈ 73,550 W = 73.55 kW. A 100 CV car develops approximately 73.5 kilowatts.
Example 2: 1 CV (historical reference)
1 × 735.499 = 735.5 W. One metric horsepower equals 735.5 W, nearly three quarters of a kilowatt.
Example 3: 300 CV (powerful car)
300 × 735.499 ≈ 220,650 W = 220.65 kW. A 300 CV car has a power output of 220 kW.