Method for operating an electric motor, in which a first method is applied in the case of a rate of rotation below a predetermined threshold and a second method is applied in the case of a rate of rotation above the predetermined threshold, wherein the first method is a method for operating an electric motor which has a stator and a rotor, wherein the stator or the rotor has at least three segments which each have at least one electromagnetic element, wherein the first method comprises the following steps: a) simultaneously disconnecting all electromagnetic elements of all segments from a power supply while the rotor rotates, b) measuring an electric variable (12, 14, 16) which is induced in the electromagnetic elements for each segment, c) determining a rotor position of the rotor relative to the stator from the measured electric variables (12, 14, 16) and wherein the second method is a method for operating an electric motor which has a stator and a rotor, wherein the stator or the rotor has at least three segments which each have at least one electromagnetic element, to which an electric current can be applied in such a manner that a segment magnetic field is formed, by means of which a segment torque is exerted on the rotor, the strength of which segment torque depends on a segment position of the rotor relative to the segment, wherein the second method comprises the following steps: A) determining an expectation time at which the segment torque of a zero-crossing segment, which is one of the at least three segments, is expected to equal zero, B) disconnecting all electromagnetic elements of the zero-crossing segment from the power supply for a first measurement time interval and for a second measurement time interval, wherein the first measurement time interval lies prior to the expectation time and the second measurement time interval is after the expectation time, C) measuring an electric variable (12, 14, 16) which is induced in the electromagnetic elements of the zero-crossing segment within the first measurement time interval and within the second measurement time interval, D) determining an actual time, at which the segment torque of the zero-crossing segment was equal to zero, from the measured electric variables (12, 14, 16). a) simultaneously disconnecting all electromagnetic elements of all segments from a power supply while the rotor rotates, b) measuring an electric variable (12, 14, 16) which is induced in the electromagnetic elements for each segment, c) determining a rotor position of the rotor relative to the stator from the measured electric variables (12, 14, 16) A) determining an expectation time at which the segment torque of a zero-crossing segment, which is one of the at least three segments, is expected to equal zero, B) disconnecting all electromagnetic elements of the zero-crossing segment from the power supply for a first measurement time interval and for a second measurement time interval, wherein the first measurement time interval lies prior to the expectation time and the second measurement time interval is after the expectation time, C) measuring an electric variable (12, 14, 16) which is induced in the electromagnetic elements of the zero-crossing segment within the first measurement time interval and within the second measurement time interval, D) determining an actual time, at which the segment torque of the zero-crossing segment was equal to zero, from the measured electric variables (12, 14, 16).