Reluctance motors

An apparatus for driving a reluctance motor comprising a stator having a plurality of stator poles. The apparatus comprises AC generating means 32 for generating a substantially sinusoidal alternating current drive current and DC generating means 34 for generating a direct current bias current. The apparatus further comprises AC driving means 36 for applying the AC drive current to a stator pole of the stator of the reluctance motor, and DC driving means 38 for applying the DC bias current to the stator pole of the reluctance motor. A controlling means 40 and motor speed detector 42 may be provided to control the ratio of magnitudes of the AC drive current and the DC bias current in dependence upon rotational speed of the motor so as to control torque applied by the motor. The controlling means may have a first mode of operation where only AC drive current is applied to the stator pole, and a second mode of operation where both AC drive current and DC bias current are applied to the stator pole.