Advantages of AC motors:

•         technically perfect

•         compact and robust construction, and therefore maintenance-free

•         enable high speeds

•         have as high efficiency as DC motors

Disadvantages of AC motors:

•         demanding on controls

•         higher price

The following table compares the most common traction electric motors and, as it can be seen, all the listed types are suitable for driving vehicles, especially synchronous motors. The best fulfillment of the given characteristic is evaluated with the number 10.


DC – asynchronous – synchronous – transverse – controlled reluctance – brushless DC

price – efficiency – weight – range of constant power – overload capability – reliability – technical maturity