Home Motor Inverter

What is a motor inverter?

A motor inverter is an electronic device that converts direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC) to power an AC motor. It changes voltage and frequency, enabling the motor to run at variable speeds. While people often use inverter drive vs VFD interchangeably, the inverter stage is actually just one part of a complete VFD system.

How does an inverter control a motor?

An inverter uses this feature to freely control the speed and torque of a motor. This type of control, in which the frequency and voltage are freely set, is called pulse width modulation, or PWM. The inverter first converts the input AC power to DC power and again creates AC power from the converted DC power using PWM control.

Is a motor inverter the same as a variable frequency drive?

A motor inverter and a variable frequency drive (VFD) are related, but not identical. The term motor inverter often refers to the DC-to-AC conversion stage that powers a motor. At the same time, a VFD is the full control system—including rectifier, DC bus, inverter stage, and control logic—for adjusting motor speed, torque, and protection.

How do EV inverters work?

EV inverters do more than drive the motor — they also enable regenerative braking by reversing the power flow: Instead of pushing current to the motor, the inverter switches on slightly after rotor alignment, generating a drag torque. As the motor spins, it generates AC voltage.