COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 640/2009  
of 22 July 2009  
implementing Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to 
ecodesign requirements for electric motors  
(Text with EEA relevance)  
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,  
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Community,  
Having regard to Directive 2005/32/EC of the European 
Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2005 establishing a 
framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy- 
using products and amending Council Directive 92/42/EEC and 
Directives 96/57/EC and 2000/55/EC of the European 
Parliament and of the Council (  1 ) and in particular 
Article 15(1) thereof,  
After consulting the Ecodesign Consultation Forum,  
Whereas:  
(1) Under Directive 2005/32/EC ecodesign requirements are 
to be set by the Commission for energy-using products 
representing significant volumes of sales and trade, 
having a significant environmental impact and presenting 
significant potential for improvement in terms of their 
environmental impact without entailing excessive costs.  
(2) Article 16(2) first indent of Directive 2005/32/EC 
provides that in accordance with the procedure referred 
to in Article 19(3) and the criteria set out in 
Article 15(2), and after consulting the Ecodesign Consul ­
tation Forum, the Commission shall, as appropriate, 
introduce an implementing measure for products used 
in electric motor systems.  
(3) Electric motors are the most important type of electric 
load in industries within the Community where motors 
are used in the production processes. The systems in 
which these motors are operated account for about 
70 % of the electricity consumed by the industry. There 
is a total potential for cost-effective improvement of the 
energy efficiency of these motor systems by about 20 % 
to 30 %. One of the major factors in such improvements 
is the use of energy efficient motors. Consequently, 
motors in electric motor systems represent a priority 
product for which ecodesign requirements should be 
established.  (4) Electric motor systems include a number of energy-using 
products, such as motors, drives, pumps or fans. Motors 
and variable speed drives are an important part of these 
products. This is why this Regulation requires that certain 
types of motors be equipped with variable speed drives.  
(5) Many motors are integrated in other products without 
being separately placed on the market or put into service 
in the meaning of Article 5 of Directive 2005/32/EC and 
of Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and 
of the Council (  2 ). To achieve the full cost-efficient energy 
saving potential, motors integrated in other products 
should be subject to the provisions of this Regulation.  
(6) The Commission has carried out a preparatory study 
which analysed the technical, environmental and 
economic aspects of electric motors. The study has 
been developed together with stakeholders and interested 
parties from the EU and third countries, and the results 
have been made publicly available.  
(7) The preparatory study shows that electric motors are 
placed on the Community market in large quantities, 
with their use-phase energy consumption being the 
most significant environmental aspect of all life-cycle 
phases, and their annual electricity consumption 
amounting to 1 067 TWh in 2005, corresponding to 
427 Mt of CO  2 emissions. In the absence of measures 
to limit this consumption, it is predicted that energy 
consumption will increase to 1 252 TWh in 2020. It 
has been concluded that the life-cycle energy 
consumption and the use-phase electricity consumption 
can be improved significantly, in particular if motors in 
variable speed and load applications are equipped with 
drives.  
(8) The preparatory study shows that electricity consumption 
in use is the only significant ecodesign parameter related 
to product design as referred to in Annex I, Part 1, to 
Directive 2005/32/EC.  
(9) Improvements in the electricity consumption of electric 
motors should be achieved by applying existing non- 
proprietary cost-effective technologies that can reduce 
the total combined costs of purchasing and operating 
them.EN L 191/26 Official Journal of the European Union 23.7.2009  
( 1 ) OJ L 191, 22.7.2005, p. 29.  (  2 ) OJ L 157, 9.6.2006, p. 24.(10) Ecodesign requirements should harmonise power 
consumption requirements for motors throughout the 
Community, thus contributing to the functioning of the 
internal market and to the improvement of the environ ­
mental performance of these products.  
(11) An appropriate timeframe should be provided for manu ­
facturers to redesign products. The timing should be such 
that negative impacts on the functionalities of motors are 
avoided, and cost impacts for manufacturers, in particular 
small and medium-sized enterprises, are taken into 
account, while ensuring timely achievement of the 
objectives of this Regulation.  
(12) Power consumption should be determined through 
reliable, accurate and reproducible measurement 
methods, which take into account the recognised state 
of the art including, where available, harmonised 
standards adopted by the European standardisation 
bodies, as listed in Annex I to Directive 98/34/EC of 
the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 
1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of 
information in the field of technical standards and regu ­
lations and of rules on Information Society services (  1 ). 
(13) This Regulation should increase the market penetration 
of technologies that improve the life-cycle environmental 
impact of electric motors, leading to estimated life-cycle 
energy savings of 5 500 PJ (  2 ) and electricity savings of 
135 TWh by 2020, compared to the situation where no 
measures are taken.  
(14) In accordance with Article 8 of Directive 2005/32/EC, 
this Regulation should specify the applicable conformity 
assessment procedures.  
(15) In order to facilitate compliance checks, manufacturers 
should be requested to provide information in the 
technical documentation referred to in Annexes IV and 
V to Directive 2005/32/EC.  
(16) In order to further limit the environmental impact of 
motors manufacturers should provide relevant 
information on disassembly, recycling or disposal at 
end-of-life.  
(17) Benchmarks for currently available technologies with 
high energy efficiency should be identified. This will 
help to ensure the wide availability and easy accessibility 
of information, in particular for small and medium-sized 
enterprises and very small firms, which will further 
facilitate the integration of best design technologies for 
reducing energy consumption.  (18) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in 
accordance with the opinion of the Committee estab ­
lished by Article 19(1) of Directive 2005/32/EC,  
HAS ADOPTED THE FOLLOWING REGULATION:  
Article 1  
Subject matter and scope  
1. This Regulation establishes ecodesign requirements for the 
placing on the market and for the putting into service of 
motors, including where integrated in other products.  
2. This Regulation shall not apply to:  
(a) motors designed to operate wholly immersed in a liquid;  
(b) motors completely integrated into a product (for example 
gear, pump, fan or compressor) of which the energy 
performance cannot be tested independently from the 
product;  
(c) motors specifically designed to operate:  
(i) at altitudes exceeding 1 000 metres above sea-level;  
(ii) where ambient air temperatures exceed 40 °C;  
(iii) in maximum operating temperature above 400 °C;  
(iv) where ambient air temperatures are less than – 15 °C 
for any motor or less than 0 °C for a motor with air 
cooling;  
(v) where the water coolant temperature at the inlet to a 
product is less than 5 °C or exceeding 25 °C;  
(vi) in potentially explosive atmospheres as defined in 
Directive 94/9/EC of the European Parliament and of 
the Council (  3 ); 
(d) brake motors;  
except as regards the information requirements of Annex I, 
points 2(3) to (6) and (12).EN 23.7.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 191/27  
( 1 ) OJ L 204, 21.7.1998, p. 37.  
( 2 ) 1 TWh = 3,6 PJ.  (  3 ) OJ L 100, 19.4.1994, p. 1.Article 2  
Definitions  
In addition to the definitions set out in Directive 2005/32/EC, 
the following definitions shall apply:  
1. ‘Motor’ means an electric single speed, three-phase 50 Hz or 
50/60 Hz, squirrel cage induction motor that:  
— has 2 to 6 poles,  
— has a rated voltage of  U N up to 1 000 V,  
— has a rated output  P N between 0,75 kW and 375 kW,  
— is rated on the basis of continuous duty operation.  
2. ‘Variable Speed Drive’ means an electronic power converter 
that continuously adapts the electrical power supplied to the 
electric motor in order to control the mechanical power 
output of the motor according to the torque-speed char ­
acteristic of the load (being driven by the motor), by 
adjusting the three-phase 50 Hz power supply to a variable 
frequency and voltage supplied to the motor.  
3. ‘Squirrel cage motor’ means an electric motor with no 
brushes, commutators, slip rings or electrical connections 
to the rotor.  
4. ‘Phase’ means the type of configuration of the mains elec ­
trical supply.  
5. ‘Pole’ means the total number of magnetic north and south 
poles produced by the rotating magnetic field of the motor. 
The number of poles determines the base speed of the 
motor.  
6. ‘Continuous duty operation’ means the capability of an 
electric motor with an integrated cooling system to 
operate at nominal load without interruption below its 
rated maximum temperature rise.  
7. ‘Brake motor’ means a motor equipped with an electro- 
mechanical brake unit operating directly on the motor 
shaft without couplings.  
Article 3  
Ecodesign requirements  
The ecodesign requirements for motors are set out in Annex I.  Each ecodesign requirement shall apply in accordance with the 
following timetable:  
1. from 16 June 2011, motors shall not be less efficient than 
the IE2 efficiency level, as defined in Annex I, point 1;  
2. from 1 January 2015:  
(i) motors with a rated output of 7,5-375 kW shall not be 
less efficient than the IE3 efficiency level, as defined in 
Annex I, point 1, or meet the IE2 efficiency level, as 
defined in Annex I, point 1, and be equipped with a 
variable speed drive.  
3. from 1 January 2017:  
(i) all motors with a rated output of 0,75-375 kW shall not 
be less efficient than the IE3 efficiency level, as defined in 
Annex I, point 1, or meet the IE2 efficiency level, as 
defined in Annex I, point 1, and be equipped with a 
variable speed drive.  
The product information requirements on motors are as set out 
in Annex I. Compliance with ecodesign requirements shall be 
measured and calculated in accordance with requirements set 
out in Annex II.  
Article 4  
Conformity assessment  
The conformity assessment procedure referred to in Article 8 of 
Directive 2005/32/EC shall be the internal design control 
system set out in Annex IV to that Directive or the management 
system for assessing conformity set out in Annex V to that 
Directive.  
Article 5  
Verification procedure for market surveillance purposes  
When performing the market surveillance checks referred to in 
Article 3(2) of Directive 2005/32/EC, the authorities of the 
Member States shall apply the verification procedure set out 
in Annex III to this Regulation.  
Article 6  
Indicative Benchmarks  
The indicative benchmarks for the best-performing motors 
currently available on the market are identified in Annex IV.  
Article 7  
Revision  
The Commission shall review this Regulation in the light of 
technological progress on both motors and drives no later 
than seven years after its entry into force and present the 
result of this review to the Ecodesign Consultation Forum. 
The review will include resource efficiency, re-use and 
recycling and the level of measurement uncertainty.EN L 191/28 Official Journal of the European Union 23.7.2009Article 8  
Entry into force  
This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the  Official Journal of the 
European Union . 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.  
Done at Brussels, 22 July 2009.  
For the Commission  
Andris PIEBALGS  
Member of the CommissionEN 23.7.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 191/29ANNEX I  
ECODESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR MOTORS  
1. MOTOR EFFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS  
The nominal minimum efficiency requirements for motors are set out in Tables 1 and 2.  
Table 1  
Nominal minimum efficiencies ( η) for IE2 efficiency level (50 Hz)  
Rated output power 
(kW)  Number of poles  
2 4  6  
0,75  77,4  79,6  75,9  
1,1 79,6  81,4  78,1  
1,5 81,3  82,8  79,8  
2,2 83,2  84,3  81,8  
3 84,6  85,5  83,3  
4 85,8  86,6  84,6  
5,5 87,0  87,7  86,0  
7,5 88,1  88,7  87,2  
11 89,4  89,8  88,7  
15 90,3  90,6  89,7  
18,5  90,9  91,2  90,4  
22 91,3  91,6  90,9  
30 92,0  92,3  91,7  
37 92,5  92,7  92,2  
45 92,9  93,1  92,7  
55 93,2  93,5  93,1  
75 93,8  94,0  93,7  
90 94,1  94,2  94,0  
110  94,3  94,5  94,3  
132  94,6  94,7  94,6  
160  94,8  94,9  94,8  
200 up to 375  95,0  95,1  95,0  
Table 2  
Nominal minimum efficiencies ( η) for IE3 efficiency level (50 Hz)  
Rated output power 
(kW)  Number of poles  
2 4  6  
0,75  80,7  82,5  78,9  
1,1 82,7  84,1  81,0  
1,5 84,2  85,3  82,5  
2,2 85,9  86,7  84,3EN L 191/30 Official Journal of the European Union 23.7.2009Rated output power 
(kW)  Number of poles  
2 4  6  
3 87,1  87,7  85,6  
4 88,1  88,6  86,8  
5,5 89,2  89,6  88,0  
7,5 90,1  90,4  89,1  
11 91,2  91,4  90,3  
15 91,9  92,1  91,2  
18,5  92,4  92,6  91,7  
22 92,7  93,0  92,2  
30 93,3  93,6  92,9  
37 93,7  93,9  93,3  
45 94,0  94,2  93,7  
55 94,3  94,6  94,1  
75 94,7  95,0  94,6  
90 95,0  95,2  94,9  
110  95,2  95,4  95,1  
132  95,4  95,6  95,4  
160  95,6  95,8  95,6  
200 up to 375  95,8  96,0  95,8  
2. PRODUCT INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS ON MOTORS  
From 16 June 2011, the information on motors set out in points 1 to 12 shall be visibly displayed on:  
(a) the technical documentation of motors;  
(b) the technical documentation of products in which motors are incorporated;  
(c) free access websites of manufacturers of motors;  
(d) free access websites of manufacturers of products in which motors are incorporated.  
As regards to the technical documentation, the information must be provided in the order as presented in points 1 to 
12. The exact wording used in the list does not need to be repeated. It may be displayed using graphs, figures or 
symbols rather than text.  
1. nominal efficiency ( η) at the full, 75 % and 50 % rated load and voltage (U  N ); 
2. efficiency level: ‘IE2’ or ‘IE3’;  
3. the year of manufacture;  
4. manufacturer’s name or trade mark, commercial registration number and place of manufacturer;  
5. product’s model number;  
6. number of poles of the motor;  
7. the rated power output(s) or range of rated power output (kW);  
8. the rated input frequency(s) of the motor (Hz);  
9. the rated voltage(s) or range of rated voltage (V);  
10. the rated speed(s) or range of rated speed (rpm);  
11. information relevant for disassembly, recycling or disposal at end-of-life;EN 23.7.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 191/3112. information on the range of operating conditions for which the motor is specifically designed:  
(i) altitudes above sea-level;  
(ii) ambient air temperatures, including for motors with air cooling;  
(iii) water coolant temperature at the inlet to the product;  
(iv) maximum operating temperature;  
(v) potentially explosive atmospheres.  
The information referred to in points 1, 2 and 3 shall be durably marked on or near the rating plate of the motor.  
The information listed in points 1 to 12 does not need to be published on motor manufacturer’s free access website 
for tailor-made motors with special mechanical and electrical design manufactured on the basis of client request. 
Information on the mandatory requirement to equip motors, which do not meet the IE3 efficiency level with a 
variable speed drive, shall be visibly displayed on the rating plate, technical documentation of the motor:  
(a) from 1 January 2015 for motors with a rated output of 7,5-375 kW;  
(b) from 1 January 2017 for motors with a rated output of 0,75-375 kW.  
Manufacturers shall provide information in the technical documentation on any specific precautions that must be 
taken when motors are assembled, installed, maintained or used with variable speed drives, including information on 
how to minimise electrical and magnetic fields from variable speed drives.  
3. DEFINITIONS FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANNEX I  
1. ‘Nominal minimum efficiency’ ( η) means the efficiency at full rated load and voltage without tolerances.  
2. ‘Tolerance’ means the maximum allowable variation in test measurement result of any given motor compared to 
the declared value on the rating plate or in the technical documentation.EN L 191/32 Official Journal of the European Union 23.7.2009ANNEX II  
MEASUREMENTS AND CALCULATIONS  
For the purposes of compliance and verification of compliance with the requirements of this Regulation, measurements 
and calculations shall be made using a reliable, accurate and reproducible method, which takes into account the generally 
recognised state-of-the-art methods, and whose results are deemed to be of low uncertainty, including methods set out in 
documents the reference numbers of which have been published for that purpose in the  Official Journal of the European 
Union . They shall fulfil all of the following technical parameters.  
The energy efficiency is the ratio of mechanical output power to the electrical input power.  
The efficiency level of the motor, as specified in Annex I, shall be determined at rated output power (P  N ), rated voltage 
(U N ), and rated frequency (f  N ). 
The difference between the output mechanical power and the input electrical power is due to losses occurring in the 
motor.  
The determination of total losses shall be carried out by one of the following methods:  
— measurement of total losses, or  
— determination of separate losses for summation.EN 23.7.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 191/33ANNEX III  
VERIFICATION PROCEDURE  
When performing the market surveillance checks referred to in Article 3(2) of Directive 2005/32/EC, the authorities of 
the Member States shall apply the following verification procedure for the requirements set out in Annex I.  
1. The authorities of the Member State shall test one single unit.  
2. The model shall be considered to comply with the provisions set out in this Regulation, if in the nominal motor 
efficiency ( η), the losses (1- η) do not vary from the values set out in Annex I by more than 15 % on power range 
0,75-150 kW and 10 % on power range > 150-375 kW.  
3. If the result referred to in point 2 is not achieved the market surveillance authority shall randomly test three additional 
units, except for motors that are produced in lower quantities than five per year.  
4. The same model shall be considered to comply with the provisions set out in this Regulation, if in the average of the 
nominal efficiency ( η), the losses (1- η) of the three units referred to in point 3 do not vary from the values set out in 
Annex I by more than 15 % on power range 0,75 to 150 kW and 10 % on power range > 150-375 kW.  
5. If the results referred to in point 4 are not achieved, the model shall be considered not to comply with this Regulation.  
For the purposes of checking conformity with the requirements of this Regulation, Member States shall apply the 
procedure referred to in Annex II and reliable, accurate and reproducible measurement methods, which take into 
account the generally recognised state of the art, including methods set in standards the reference numbers of which 
have been published for that purpose in the  Official Journal of the European Union . 
ANNEX IV  
INDICATIVE BENCHMARKS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 6  
At the time of adoption of this Regulation, the best available technology on the market for motors was identified as the 
IE3 level, or an IE3 motor equipped with a variable speed drive, as defined in Annex I.EN L 191/34 Official Journal of the European Union 23.7.2009