To know how fast a car is, it is common to find out the engine's power, which is quantified using CV and HP. However, these are not equal measures. In Brazil, it is common to use CV, while in countries like the United States, the unit used is HP.
In this context, it may seem that CV and HP are the same thing. However, despite measuring engine power, each one has a different value.
What is CV and HP
The acronym CV stands for Horsepower and HP stands for horsepower, or horse strength, in free translation. In this way, both terms refer to the same thing, just in different languages, with CV being used in Brazil and HP in English-speaking countries.
Therefore, a national vehicle, in general, will come with its power described using Horsepower. While an imported vehicle will use horsepower.
However, despite dealing with the measurement of engine power, CV and HP are not exactly the same.
In fact, in more technical documents, it is common not to use CV and HP, as they are not very precise measurements. Therefore, the measure adopted internationally is the Watts.
Speaking of Watts, the terms CV and HP emerged after James Watt, mathematician and engineer, invented the steam engine in 1768. As at the time there were no engines for comparison, James Watt placed horses on a treadmill, calculating the energy they generated.
Hence the reason the acronym has the word horse, since the comparison made by James used horses and the energy they produced when running.
CV power and HP are not the same
When James Watt evaluated the performance of horses on the treadmill, he came to the conclusion that they generate around 745,7 Watts. And this is the value of HP (horsepower).
This calculation was made based on the force that the horse exerts to lift a 75kg object to a height of 1 meter within 1 second.
On the other hand, horsepower (CV) represents about 735,5 Watts. Therefore, despite measuring the same thing, CV and HP are not exactly equivalent.
In this sense, CV power and HP are not the same, the horsepower slightly bigger. Thus, a 100 HP engine will have 74570 Watts, while the same engine but written with CV would have 73550 Watts, that is, the engine calculated by CV would have around 1000 Watts less.
The conversion of CV and HP to Watts is as follows:
- 1 CV = 735,499 Watts
- 1 HP = 745,699 Watts
To convert between CV and HP, the measurements are:
- 1 HP = 0,98632 HP
- 1 HP = 1,01387 CV
Difference between CV and HP and torque
Talking about the vehicle's power seems to be the same thing as torque. However, torque is different from CV and HP.
Torque refers to the force required to bring an object out of inertia. In other words, how much force the car engine needs to exert to put the vehicle in motion. Thus, in the combustion engine, torque generates the force to rotate the crankshaft and thus gain power and accelerate the vehicle.
In fact, torque is measured by kilogram force meter (kgfm) or by Newton meter (Nm), with Nm being adopted by the International System of Units.
In this sense, torque decreases as the vehicle accelerates and changes gears, since less force will be needed when the car is already moving. Therefore, first and second gears have the most torque.
This decline also appears when we talk about CV and HP. That is, each car will deliver a maximum of power at a certain rotation per minute (RPM) and, after that peak, it will decrease.
Check out the example
For example, a 2.0 Corolla delivers 154 HP at 5.800 rpm, while the peak torque is reached at 4800 rpm.
Measuring the CV and HP of a vehicle will measure how much power it has to keep the vehicle moving, for example, at 100km/h. While torque measures the force that the engine can generate to put the vehicle in motion.
When choosing where to stay, the more CV and HP, the higher the maximum speed he can reach. It is because of the Bugatti Chiron's 1500 HP that this vehicle reaches a top speed of an incredible 400km/h.
In short, having more CV and HP is interesting when the objective is to have higher maximum speeds. While The greater torque is interesting when you need to start as quickly as possible.
Therefore, passenger cars focus on CV and HP. In fact, because they are lighter and more compact, they don't need the engine to exert as much force to get out of place.
On the other hand, trucks and heavy vehicles seek to have more torque than horses. After all, a truck carries a lot of weight and needs to be able to move out of place and have strength, for example, when going uphill.
The role of CV and HP in ECU remap
In the vehicle's Remap, it is possible to increase engine power by up to 65%.
CV and HP are directly related to the vehicle's performance. After all, these measurements indicate how fast a vehicle can be.
Thus, this is a central theme of a vehicle remap process. For vehicle owners who want to increase their engine's power, remap can accomplish this even without mechanical modifications.
This is possible through electronic injection reprogramming (remap) via software, that is, accessing the electronic injection control unit (ECU) and changing specific information.
Na Strike Brasil, the process of Remap Stage 1 delivery gains of 15% to 65% in power and torque. Stage 1 is done entirely via software, so the vehicle has an increase in power and torque without undergoing any type of change in its mechanical parts.
Conclusion
Finally, HP and CV are units of measurement of the vehicle's engine power. Despite measuring the same thing, they have different values, with HP being greater than CV.
Therefore, when analyzing any engine, the one described in HP will have more power than the one described in CV. Currently, with electric vehicles becoming more popular, it is becoming more common to talk about engine power in Watts.
Also check out Our store the products we offer to increase the power of your vehicle.
Strike Brasil It's more than Remap:
A Strike Brasil, without a doubt, is the largest automotive performance company in all of Latin America, and has been working increasingly to reach higher levels and expand its operations. Currently, we develop our own products and services, through studies, research and exclusive technology, ensuring the uniqueness of each of them.
We count on more than 50 units spread across Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Guatemala, Ecuador, in addition to the United States. We have already surpassed the mark of 20 thousand reprogrammed vehicles. If you are interested in the service, talk to our experts via WhatsApp.
