Efficient motor driven systems

Header_Efficient _Drive_Systems

In industrial companies, electric motors are responsible for about three quarters of the electricity consumption.
Motor driven systems are a relevant cost factor - it´s worth looking more closely.

Lebenszykluskosten_E

You can save with the Motor-Systems-Check:

  • Efficiency before purchase price! When buying a new electric motor keep in mind: the electricty consumed by a motor during its lifetime, costs about 100 times more than the motor itself. The investment in an efficient motor generally pays off.
  • It’s worth taking action! With many motor systems, you can save 20% to 30% of the energy costs. With an analysis of the savings potential you can find out how much your company can save - an investment plan shows how to make the most of it.

The electricity consumption of any conventional electric motor results in costs that are greater than the purchase price of the motor by a factor of approximately 100. Consequently, the energy costs of the motor over the entire lifetime are relevant for the economic evaluation of the motor and the entire motor driven system.


The purchase costs remain marginal even if the motor runs in an integrated overall system. A significant percentage of this electricity consumption is usually unnecessary:

  • Many motors do not have on-off control. They operate during the entire shift, even if their use is only required sporadically.
  • Approximately 80% of the motor driven systems in industry run continuously at nominal speed. However, the corresponding nominal output is only rarely or even never needed.
  • 60% of motors are oversized. Since the efficiency of the motor, the driven pump, fan, compressor, etc. is lower at part load, this results in a wasteful use of power.
  • 56% of motors and their driven systems are old and inefficient.
  • In typical industrial factories, the motor driven systems consume over 80% of the total electricity.

Conclusion: Motors are a cost factor - it pays off to audit the machines of the entire company and identify the best savings opportunities. In most cases, energy savings of 20% to 30% can be made through economic measures. And: the pay back period is usually well below three years.