A multiple phase electric machine, comprising: a power source; a stator and a rotor coaxial with the stator; wherein the stator includes coils (36, 38, 40) grouped in at least two groups of at least three phases each, each of the at least two groups defining a machine portion (16, 18, 20); the interconnection of the at least three phases of each machine portion including first contactors (54, 56, 58) and second contactors (60, 62, 64) and being so configured as to be changeable between three configurations including a star configuration in which the first contactors (54, 56, 58) are in their open position and the second contactors (60, 62, 64) are in their closed position, a delta configuration in which the first contactors (54, 56, 58) are in their closed position and the second contactors (60, 62, 64) are in their open position, and a neutral configuration in which both the first contactors (54, 56, 58) and the second contactors (60, 62, 64) are in their open position; and a drive circuit comprising: at least two inverter power circuits (22, 24, 26) each associated with a respective machine portion (16, 18, 20); a controller so connected to the at least two inverter power circuits as to independently control the at least two inverter power circuits and configured to change the configuration of the at least two machine portions one at a time between the star configuration and the delta configuration so that the other of the at least two machine portions develop or develops a compensating torque. a power source; a stator and a rotor coaxial with the stator; wherein the stator includes coils (36, 38, 40) grouped in at least two groups of at least three phases each, each of the at least two groups defining a machine portion (16, 18, 20); the interconnection of the at least three phases of each machine portion including first contactors (54, 56, 58) and second contactors (60, 62, 64) and being so configured as to be changeable between three configurations including a star configuration in which the first contactors (54, 56, 58) are in their open position and the second contactors (60, 62, 64) are in their closed position, a delta configuration in which the first contactors (54, 56, 58) are in their closed position and the second contactors (60, 62, 64) are in their open position, and a neutral configuration in which both the first contactors (54, 56, 58) and the second contactors (60, 62, 64) are in their open position; and a drive circuit comprising: at least two inverter power circuits (22, 24, 26) each associated with a respective machine portion (16, 18, 20); a controller so connected to the at least two inverter power circuits as to independently control the at least two inverter power circuits and configured to change the configuration of the at least two machine portions one at a time between the star configuration and the delta configuration so that the other of the at least two machine portions develop or develops a compensating torque. at least two inverter power circuits (22, 24, 26) each associated with a respective machine portion (16, 18, 20); a controller so connected to the at least two inverter power circuits as to independently control the at least two inverter power circuits and configured to change the configuration of the at least two machine portions one at a time between the star configuration and the delta configuration so that the other of the at least two machine portions develop or develops a compensating torque.