If you have an electric vehicle, you might be familiar with these two terms: kW and kWh. For instance, we might believe both are the same, but that’s not true. Although both terms are related to batteries, they are completely different.
This article is about learning “What Is kWh?” and “What Is kW?” and figuring out the differences between kW Vs kWh.
We will also discuss the kilowatt hour calculator, which can calculate kWh for any electrical device. So, let’s move on!
What Is kWh?
The full form of kWh is kilowatt-hour. In layman’s language, it is the unit of electricity. In India, we calculate how many units of electricity any electrical device consumes per hour, which is nothing but the kWh in technical terms.
In simple language, the higher the kWh value, the more electricity the device will consume per hour. To understand kWh better, let’s use the following example.
Here is an example of a Smart TV that is available on Amazon. The TV’s rated wattage is 145 watts or .145 kW. This means the TV will consume one unit of electricity if you run it for 6.89 hours, which is derived by (1/.145).
In a nutshell, kWh measures the energy a device consumes per hour.
Electric vehicle batteries are rated in kWh. For example, a 2.9 kWh Ola S1 X scooter will consume 2.9 units of electricity for a full charge, but this does not mean it will consume 2.9 units per hour.
That is where the term kW comes into the picture, which we will discuss in the next paragraph.
kWh Calculator
To calculate kWh, you can use the following formula:
kWh = kW x time in hours per day
For example, if you have a 2 kW appliance running for 3 hours, the calculation would be
kWh = 2 X 3 = 6 kWh.
This means the appliance will consume 6 units of electricity daily if you run it for 3 hours daily.
What Is kW?
kW is the measurement of power. The full form of kW is kilowatt. It measures the power rate that an electrical device needs to operate.
The higher the kW value, the more electricity is needed to operate it.
For example, portable electrical battery chargers are rated in watts or kW. If you have a 3 kWh battery pack and a 500 W portable charger, it will take the charger 6 hours to fully charge the 3 kWh battery.
1 kW = 1000 Watts.
Difference Between kW and kWh
The main difference between kW and kWh is that kW measures power, whereas kWh measures energy. Both are related to batteries.
Kilowatt (kW): Kilowatt (kW) is a unit of power. It measures the rate at which energy is used or generated.
In simpler terms, it represents the energy used or produced at any moment. For example, when turned on, a 100-watt light bulb uses 0.1 kW of power.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh): The kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit of energy that measures the amount of energy used over a period of time.
Simply put, it represents the total energy consumed or produced over a specific period. For instance, if a 1 kW appliance is used for 1 hour, it consumes 1 kWh of energy.
The main difference between kW and kWh is that kW measures the energy usage or production rate at a specific moment, while kWh measures the total energy used over time.
Here is a simple chart showing the differences between kW and kWh
| Electrical Device | Power (kW) | Hours Of Operation | Energy (kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TV | 0.145 | 8 | 8.145 |
| Monitor | 0.030 | 8 | 0.24 |
| Air Conditioner | 1.300 | 8 | 10.4 |
| Home EV charger | 0.750 | 8 | 6 |
| DC Fast Charger | 50 | 8 | 400 |
Importance of kW and kWh in Electrical Vehicles
Electric vehicles’ battery capacity is rated in kWh, and portable charger / DC fast charger power is rated in kW.
For example, the Vida V1 Pro Scooter’s rated battery capacity is 3.4 kWh, and it comes with a 750-watt charger.
The battery will consume 3.4 units of electricity to fully charge. The portable charger will fully charge the battery in about 3400/750 = 4.53 hours.
Now, if you charge it using any DC fast charger of around 5 kW rated power, it will take about (3.4 /50= 0.68 hours to fully charge the battery.
Knowing the battery capacity (kWh) of the electric vehicle you buy is very important because it will determine how long you can drive on a single charge.
That will also tell us how much electricity the battery will consume per full charge.
On the other hand, you should also be aware of the charger’s kW rating, which will determine how long it will take to charge the battery.
Conclusion: kW vs kWh
In conclusion, it’s important to understand the distinction between kW and kWh. While kW measures the energy usage or production rate at a specific moment, kWh measures the total energy used over time.
Knowing these two units’ differences is essential for effectively understanding and managing energy consumption.
Understanding the difference between kW and kWh can also help you make informed decisions about energy usage and electricity bill management.
Knowing the distinction between kW and kWh can benefit various aspects of daily life, whether you are a homeowner, a business owner, or someone interested in energy efficiency.
What Is kWh?
kWh is the measurement of the energy capacity of any electrical device that it can store and deliver when in use. The higher the kWh value, the more electricity is used per hour.
What Is The Difference Between kW and kWh?
kW is the measurement of rated power, and kWh is the measurement of rated energy.
The higher the kW value, the less time it takes to charge a battery. On the other hand, the higher the kWh value, the higher the electricity consumption per hour.
