Wheel Horse Power Calculator:
Enter the values of engine horsepower, EHP(W) and drive train loss factor, DTLF to determine the value of Wheel horsepower, WHP(W).
Wheel Horse Power Formula:
WHP signifies the usable engine power delivered to the vehicle’s wheels (W), it’s a more practical measure of a car’s true performance on the road.
Engine power ratings can be misleading. WHP accounts for energy losses within the drivetrain (clutch, transmission, differential, etc.) and reflects the power actually available for moving the car.
Comparing WHP allows for a more accurate evaluation of performance across vehicles with potentially different drivetrain configurations, even if their engine power ratings are similar.
WHP is always lower than EHP because of the inevitable energy losses within the drivetrain. Knowing the DTLF helps estimate these losses and provides a more realistic picture of the car’s actual power reaching the wheels.
Wheel horsepower, WHP(W) in watts is calculated by dividing the engine horsepower, EHP(W) in watts by drive train loss factor, DTLF.
Wheel horsepower, WHP(W) = EHP(W) / DTLF
WHP(W) = wheel horse power in watts, W.
EHP(W) = engine horsepower in watts, W.
DTLF = drive train loss factor, DTLF.
Wheel Horse Power Calculation:
- A car’s engine produces 200 horsepower (EHP). Assuming a 15% drivetrain loss factor (DTLF), what is the estimated wheel horsepower?
Given: EHP(W) = 200, DTLF = 15%
Wheel horsepower, WHP(W) = EHP(W) / DTLF
WHP(W) = 200 / 0.15
WHP(W) = 133.3W.
- A dynamometer test reveals 170 wheel horsepower (WHP) for a car. If the drivetrain loss factor (DTLF) is estimated to be 20%, what is the minimum engine horsepower required?
Given: WHP(W) = 170, DTLF = 20%
Wheel horsepower, WHP(W) = EHP(W) / DTLF
EHP(W) = WHP(W) * DTLF
EHP(W) = 170 * 0.2
EHP(W) = 34W.