A drive circuit for a modern SR motor has the same number of power semiconductors as an inverter for an ordinary variable-frequency drive. However, the SR drive switches at a lower frequency because it need not synthesize a sinusoidal waveform. This minimizes energy losses and allows use of power semiconductors having lower power ratings than in an equivalent ac drive. The SR drive output configuration also eliminates the risk of shoot-through faults that can happen in inverters because the power switches are not wired in series.