Zero to sixty estimate calculator
Acceleration below about 60 km/h is limited by grip and above it by power. Both limits are worth knowing.
kW
%
%
Estimated time to the target speed
67.65s
- Power-limited time
- 58.824 s
- Traction-limited time
- 18.540 s
- Power to weight
- 100.0 W/kg
- Maximum acceleration from grip
- 5.394 m/s2
- Launch g
- 0.550
- Power at the wheels
- 127 500 W
Show the working
- Power = 150
- Weight with driver = 1500
- Drivetrain loss = 15
- Coefficient of friction = 1
- Weight on the driven wheels = 55
- Target speed = 100
- Power at the wheels = 150 * 1000 * (1 - 15/100) = 127 500
- v = 100 = 100
- Power-limited time = 127 500 > 0 ? 1500 * 100^2 / (2 * 127 500) : 0 = 58.8235
- Maximum acceleration from grip = 1 * g0 * 55/100 = 5.393 66
- Traction-limited time = 5.393 66 > 0 ? 100 / 5.393 66 : 0 = 18.5403
- Estimated time to the target speed = max(58.8235, 18.5403) * 1.15 = 67.6471
- Power to weight = 1500 > 0 ? 150 / 1500 * 1000 : 0 = 100
- Launch g = 5.393 66 / g0 = 0.55
Values are shown to six significant figures here; the arithmetic itself runs on exact fractions and is only rounded where a number is printed.
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The formula
- power-limited time = m v^2 / (2 P), from the work-energy theorem
- traction-limited time = v / (mu g x weight share on the driven axle)
- a 15% allowance covers gear changes and drag
This is an estimate with wide error bars. Real times depend on gearing, torque curve, launch technique and tyre temperature.
A front-wheel-drive car is usually traction limited to the low fours at best, whatever its power.