The European Commission has launched a public consultation as it prepares to revise ecodesign requirements for electric motors and variable speed drives — key components in both industrial machinery and household appliances.
Electric motors are widely used across sectors, from industrial production lines to everyday items like refrigerators, dishwashers, fans and heat pumps. Variable speed drives, often integrated with these motors, improve energy efficiency by adjusting the speed or torque of a motor to match actual load conditions. This enables systems to consume less energy and reduces wear on components, especially in applications where full power is not always needed.
Ecodesign rules
Both technologies are currently regulated under ecodesign rules last updated in 2019. However, as part of the European Union’s broader push to increase energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact, the Commission is now reviewing whether these requirements remain fit for purpose — particularly in light of technological developments and the EU’s longer-term climate goals.
The review forms part of the broader Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), adopted earlier this year. Under the ESPR, product design rules can be expanded beyond energy performance to include material efficiency, durability, repairability, and recyclability. These criteria are intended to encourage longer product lifespans, reduce waste, and make it easier to reuse or recycle components, all central to the EU’s circular economy strategy.
As a first step, the Commission has opened a call for evidence, seeking input from manufacturers, industry stakeholders, consumer organisations and private individuals. The consultation is open until 22 September 2025. Responses will inform a full impact assessment, which will examine the potential economic, technical and environmental effects of different policy options.
Any revised regulations are expected to be adopted by 2029, following further stakeholder engagement and legislative procedures.
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The review is one of several underway as the EU seeks to strengthen the sustainability of energy-related products. With electric motors accounting for a significant share of industrial electricity use, improving their efficiency — and the systems they power — is seen as a key lever in reducing Europe’s overall energy demand.
