A variable coil configuration system, comprising: a plurality of bridge rectifiers, the bridge rectifiers each having a pair of AC nodes on an AC side of the respective bridge rectifier and a pair of DC nodes on a DC side of the respective bridge rectifier, wherein the pair of AC nodes for each bridge rectifier in the plurality of bridge rectifiers is electrically connectable to a coil of an electric machine; a first number of switches, each of the switches of the first number of switches on the AC side of a respective one of the bridge rectifiers, wherein each of the bridge rectifiers is arranged to couple at least two coils electrically in parallel with one another when a respective switch of the first number of switches is open and the at least two coils are not subject to an open circuit condition, a low voltage condition or a short circuit condition, and each of the switches of the first number of switches is operable to selectively electrically couple the at least two coils electrically in series with one another when the switch is closed; characterized by a controller configured to switch the first number of switches at respective zero crossings of a respective current, wherein the first number of switches are TRIACS; and a second number of switches, each of the switches of the second number of switches electrically connected in parallel with respective ones of the first number of switches, wherein the switches of the first number of switches are faster than the switches of the second number of switches and the switches of the second number of switches have a lower associated electrical loss than an electrical loss associated with the switches of the first number of switches. a plurality of bridge rectifiers, the bridge rectifiers each having a pair of AC nodes on an AC side of the respective bridge rectifier and a pair of DC nodes on a DC side of the respective bridge rectifier, wherein the pair of AC nodes for each bridge rectifier in the plurality of bridge rectifiers is electrically connectable to a coil of an electric machine; a first number of switches, each of the switches of the first number of switches on the AC side of a respective one of the bridge rectifiers, wherein each of the bridge rectifiers is arranged to couple at least two coils electrically in parallel with one another when a respective switch of the first number of switches is open and the at least two coils are not subject to an open circuit condition, a low voltage condition or a short circuit condition, and each of the switches of the first number of switches is operable to selectively electrically couple the at least two coils electrically in series with one another when the switch is closed; characterized by a controller configured to switch the first number of switches at respective zero crossings of a respective current, wherein the first number of switches are TRIACS; and a second number of switches, each of the switches of the second number of switches electrically connected in parallel with respective ones of the first number of switches, wherein the switches of the first number of switches are faster than the switches of the second number of switches and the switches of the second number of switches have a lower associated electrical loss than an electrical loss associated with the switches of the first number of switches.