Horsepower (
hp) is a
unit of measurement of
power (the rate at which
work is done). There are many different standards and types of horsepower. The term was adopted in the late 18th century by
Scottish engineer
James Watt to compare the output of
steam engines with the power of
draft horses. It was later expanded to include the output power of other types of
piston engines, as well as
turbines,
electric motors and other machinery. The definition of the unit varied between geographical regions. Most countries now use the
SI unit
watt for measurement of power. With the implementation of the EU Directive 80/181/EEC on January 1, 2010, the use of horsepower in the EU is permitted only as a supplementary unit.