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Power-to-Weight Ratio Formula:
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The power-to-weight ratio is a measurement of performance that compares the power output of an engine to the total weight of the vehicle. It is commonly expressed in horsepower per tonne (hp/tonne) and is a key indicator of acceleration and overall performance capabilities.
The calculator uses the power-to-weight ratio formula:
Where:
Explanation: This simple calculation divides the engine's horsepower by the vehicle's weight to determine how much power is available to move each tonne of weight.
Details: A higher power-to-weight ratio generally indicates better acceleration and performance. This metric is crucial for comparing vehicles across different classes and understanding their potential performance characteristics.
Tips: Enter the vehicle's horsepower and weight in tonnes. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will instantly compute the power-to-weight ratio.
Q1: What is a good power-to-weight ratio?
A: For passenger cars, 100-150 hp/tonne is good, 150-200 hp/tonne is excellent, and over 200 hp/tonne is considered high-performance.
Q2: How does power-to-weight ratio affect acceleration?
A: Higher ratios typically result in faster acceleration, as there's more power available to overcome inertia and move the vehicle's mass.
Q3: Should I use metric or imperial units?
A: This calculator uses metric units (hp and tonnes), but you can convert from other units as needed (1 tonne = 1000 kg = 2204.62 lbs).
Q4: Is this ratio more important than pure horsepower?
A: For performance comparison, power-to-weight ratio is often more meaningful than horsepower alone, as it accounts for the vehicle's mass.
Q5: Can this be used for electric vehicles?
A: Yes, though you may need to convert kilowatts to horsepower (1 kW ≈ 1.341 hp) for electric motors.