What is the Maximum Net Power of an Engine?
2 Answers
Engine maximum net power refers to the effective power output measured at the engine's power output shaft when the engine is equipped with all accessories under actual operating conditions and operating at the speed specified by the manufacturer on the engine test bench. The specific details are as follows: 1. Maximum net power is the power that completely drives the car's movement, excluding the energy wasted and the energy used by the generator to produce electricity. 2. The engine's power is not equal to the car's power; in mechanical transmission, there will be intermediate power losses. Additionally, designs that thicken and increase the weight of the car body for safety reasons can also lead to a loss of engine power.
The concept of maximum net power of an engine, it took me over 20 years of driving to truly understand. It refers to the maximum horsepower the engine can actually deliver to you during operation, but only after deducting the energy consumed by auxiliary equipment like the air conditioning, generator, and fan. Imagine you're on the highway, pressing the accelerator to accelerate, but if the air conditioning is on, the car feels sluggish—this affects the net power. It's more accurate than the labeled nominal power because it reflects real-world scenarios. When buying a car, I always pay attention to this number because it determines how easy it is to climb hills or overtake. I've also noticed that older cars experience a faster decline in net power, so I recommend regular maintenance to maintain it.
