If you want to know where the term horsepower came from, you have to go back to the 18th century. It was then that James Watt first used that word in relation to strength and power. Watt, it is said, wanted to find a way to sell more steam engines and promote his design. He surmised that to do this; he would need to impress potential buyers with their ability to perform work beyond the capabilities of the horses in use during that time.
After spending time at a coal mine and watching the ponies at work, he determined that a single horse could pull as much as 33 pounds per minute. This calculation worked as planned and that is why we now use the term 'horsepower when describing the power and strength of vehicles today.
For a better idea of horsepower and how it relates to your car, visit McCafferty Hyundai Sales, Inc. to talk with our professionals.
