1. Context

1.1 Energy efficiency of electrical machines

Electrical machines are used in industry to drive a wide variety of production systems. They are also widely used in all sectors of the economy, including the home. Examples include domestic applications (freezers, air conditioning, etc.), industrial applications (pumping, ventilation, compressed air, refrigeration, etc.), transport (electric cars, etc.) and power generation (wind turbines, etc.). Every year, around 30 million new electric motors, with an average power of between 0.75 and 300 kW, are sold worldwide; the total number of these motors currently in service in industry, infrastructure and large buildings is close to 300 million. By way of illustration, in France, 30% of the energy used in industry is electric, and 70% of this...