Visit any vehicle dealership, and you are sure to hear the term "horsepower" kicked around a time or two. This is because most people want to know just how much power the car they are interested in will deliver. While that may be true, many people have no real understanding of what that term means. Knowing where it originated can help.
James Watt, an 18th-century steam engine designer, is credited with introducing horsepower to the world. In his marketing efforts, he knew he must find a method to impress consumers of the power and strength of his engines. Back then, horses were still a major source of power, and that gave him an idea. Watt's observations of ponies working in a coal mine became his inspiration. He calculated that each pony could pull 33 pounds per minute consistently. This measurement became what we know today as horsepower.
To get a better idea of how horsepower works for us, visit our knowledgeable staff at McCafferty Kia of Langhorne today!