The OC 500 LEs actually have 69 PS more than the K230UB (299 -
230).
Also, Mercedes-Benz engines are calibrated to even kilowatt
figures. The 12-litre OM 457 hLA is available in 185 kW (252
PS), 220 kW (299 PS), 260 kW (354 PS) and 300 kW (408 PS).
Regards,
Dave
To add on, there might be confusion within non-technical
oriented bus fans that the commonly used metric horsepower = PS. In
fact one PS is equal to 0.98 (to be exact 0.98632) horsepower. So
in fact to say, a OM457hLA with a 220kW rating engine would
translate to 299 horsepower (220000/735) and then on to 303PS
(299/0.98). A Scania DC9 engine used on the K230UB would be of 230
horsepower and 233PS. These are exact terms which few people would
go to the extent of stating that they are different, so I have came
across the fact that PS = horsepower, and this includes the
Mercedes Benz German site...
PS stands for Pferdestärke in German, which actually means
horsepower in their own sense! However stating that a German
horsepower and Metric (British) horsepower is different, I wonder
if they eat the different types of grass (while on different side
of the English Channel)! This of course would not be the
case.
To share more...
There had been much confusion for the term 'horsepower' through
the years. In the past when I have just touched technical, I always
thought that a horsepower rating of an engine would mean a horse
equivalent of power under the boot! Until later in school that I
learnt a Singaporean would likely rate his horse (those at Kranji
Race Course?) differently from a Russian, or an American, maybe in
some cases between a pony and a strong race horse, or more
accurately that the work that they can do is different!
Hence nowadays, watt have became the standard unit in measuring
vehicle performance, as so far that i know, it standardise the term
of a horsepower which would differ from a metric one to a imperial
one to maybe a Singaporean one.
The unit of PS had been deemed obsolete by the EEC in 1992, but
it can still be encountered frequently, especially in Japanese
sources where I always have to do a slight conversion from PS to
the metric horsepower. Slight difference only I guess.
When rating an engine, there is also a difference of rated
horsepower from the engine and actual output. Rated, and also known
as brake horsepower (bhp), is what can be achieved in the labs,
while actual conditions would vary. Just like the 'ideal' condition
in a physics or chemistry lab experiment.
Thanks for the insight Dave, we sure learn lots more about
engines! :D
