Convert watts to horsepower: 500 W = 0.67 HP, 1 HP = 745.7 W, 1 CV = 735.5 W. See kW, HP and CV with formula and table — free online.
Power measures the rate of energy transfer over time — how much work is done per unit of time. The best-known unit, the watt, was named in honour of Scottish engineer James Watt, who didn't invent the steam engine but dramatically improved it in the 18th century, making it efficient enough to revolutionize the Industrial Revolution. To honour him, the unit of power was named after him, officially adopted internationally in 1882. A common confusion is between power and energy: power is the rate (watts), while energy is the accumulated result of that rate over time (watt-hour). It's the difference between "how fast you're driving" (speed/power) and "how much fuel you've already used" (distance/energy) — related concepts, but fundamentally different. This converter calculates between watts, kilowatts, horsepower (hp, a historical unit that still persists in motor specifications), and other power units, essential for engineers sizing motors and energy systems, electricians assessing circuit and equipment capacity, HVAC professionals calculating cooling power, and anyone comparing technical specifications of appliances or equipment imported from regions using different measurement systems.
Not exactly. 1 CV (metric horsepower) equals 735.5 watts, while 1 HP (mechanical horsepower) equals 745.7 watts — a small but real difference.
1 kilowatt equals 1,000 watts.
Divide the value in CV by 0.9863, or multiply by approximately 0.9863 for the reverse.