Enter the total engine output in kilo-watts (kW) into the calculator and select the drive-train to determine the wheel KW. This calculator can convert between both engine and wheel kilo-watts.

Engine KW to Wheel KW Calculator

Enter any 2 values to calculate the missing variable

Engine hp ↔ Wheel hp (RWD, drivetrain loss = 15%)
Engine hp to Wheel hp Wheel hp to Engine hp
100 hp = 85 hp120 hp = 141.2 hp
150 hp = 127.5 hp170 hp = 200 hp
200 hp = 170 hp225 hp = 264.7 hp
250 hp = 212.5 hp275 hp = 323.5 hp
300 hp = 255 hp325 hp = 382.4 hp
350 hp = 297.5 hp375 hp = 441.2 hp
400 hp = 340 hp425 hp = 500 hp
450 hp = 382.5 hp475 hp = 558.8 hp
500 hp = 425 hp550 hp = 647.1 hp
600 hp = 510 hp650 hp = 764.7 hp
700 hp = 595 hp750 hp = 882.4 hp
800 hp = 680 hp850 hp = 1,000 hp
Formulas: Wheel = Engine × (1 − Loss) and Engine = Wheel ÷ (1 − Loss). (Loss = 0.15.)
Engine hp ↔ Wheel hp (AWD, drivetrain loss = 20%)
Engine hp to Wheel hp Wheel hp to Engine hp
200 hp = 160 hp180 hp = 225 hp
300 hp = 240 hp260 hp = 325 hp
400 hp = 320 hp340 hp = 425 hp
500 hp = 400 hp420 hp = 525 hp
600 hp = 480 hp520 hp = 650 hp
700 hp = 560 hp620 hp = 775 hp
800 hp = 640 hp720 hp = 900 hp
1,000 hp = 800 hp900 hp = 1,125 hp
Formulas: Wheel = Engine × (1 − Loss) and Engine = Wheel ÷ (1 − Loss). (Loss = 0.20.)

Engine KW to Wheel KW Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the KW at the wheel given the engine KW.

W(kW) = E(kW) - E(kw)*DTL
  • Where W(kW) is the wheel kilo-watts (kW)
  • E(kw) is the engine kilo-watts (kW)
  • DTL is the drive train loss
    • 10% for front wheel drive
    • 15% for rear-wheel drive
    • 20% for all-wheel drive

To calculate the wheel kW, subtract the drivetrain loss from the engine kW.

What is Wheel KW?

Definition:

Wheel KW is a measure of the total power delivered to the wheels of an electric vehicle where the engine is outputting a certain power in kilo-watts.

How to calculate wheel KW?

Example Problem:

The following example problem outlines how to calculate wheel kW from engine kW.

First, determine the power output of the engine in kilo-watts. For this example, the engine outputs 1000 kW.

Next, determine the losses by the drivetrain. In this example, the electric vehicle is all wheel drive and has a 20% loss.

Finally, calculate the wheel kW using the formula above:

W(kW) = E(kW) - E(kw)*DTL

W(kW) = 1000 - 1000*.20

W(kW) = 800 kW