For these reasons electric motors are replacing internal combustion in transportation and industry, although their use in vehicles is currently limited by the high cost and weight of batteries that can give sufficient range between charges. They are also lightweight, physically smaller, are mechanically simpler and cheaper to build, can provide instant and consistent torque at any speed, can run on electricity generated by renewable sources and do not exhaust carbon into the atmosphere. Magnetic solenoids are also transducers that convert electrical power to mechanical motion, but can produce motion over only a limited distance.Įlectric motors are much more efficient than the other prime mover used in industry and transportation, the internal combustion engine (ICE) electric motors are typically over 95% efficient while ICEs are well below 50%. An electric motor is generally designed for continuous rotation, or for linear movement over a significant distance compared to its size. In certain applications, such as in regenerative braking with traction motors, electric motors can be used in reverse as generators to recover energy that might otherwise be lost as heat and friction.Įlectric motors produce linear or rotary force ( torque) intended to propel some external mechanism, such as a fan or an elevator. Small motors may be found in electric watches. Electric motors are found in industrial fans, blowers and pumps, machine tools, household appliances, power tools and disk drives. The largest electric motors are used for ship propulsion, pipeline compression and pumped-storage applications with ratings reaching 100 megawatts. General-purpose motors with standard dimensions and characteristics provide convenient mechanical power for industrial use. In addition to AC versus DC types, motors may be brushed or brushless, may be of various phase (see single-phase, two-phase, or three-phase), and may be either air-cooled or liquid-cooled. An electric generator is mechanically identical to an electric motor, but operates with a reversed flow of power, converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.Įlectric motors may be classified by considerations such as power source type, internal construction, application and type of motion output. Electric motors can be powered by direct current (DC) sources, such as from batteries, or rectifiers, or by alternating current (AC) sources, such as a power grid, inverters or electrical generators. Most electric motors operate through the interaction between the motor's magnetic field and electric current in a wire winding to generate force in the form of torque applied on the motor's shaft. Animation showing operation of a brushed DC electric motor.Īn electric motor is an electrical machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.

What is a motor winding