Linear drive for driving a vehicle along a track section of a driving track, comprising: a first number m of stator groups (1-1', 2-2', 3-3', 4-4'; 1, 2, 3, 4,...) which are arranged behind one another along the track section, wherein m >= 2; a second number n of energy supply units (A, B; A, B, C), wherein each of the n energy supply units (A, B; A, B, C) is connected to certain stator groups (1-1', 2-2', 3-3', 4-4'; 1, 2, 3, 4) for supplying electric energy to the respective stator groups (1-1', 2-2', 3-3', 4-4'; 1, 2, 3, 4), wherein n <= m; at least m switching units, wherein each of the m switching units is associated to one of the m stator groups (1-1', 2-2', 3-3', 4-4'; 1, 2, 3, 4) for allowing and/or interrupting the flow of electric energy to a respective stator group (1-1', 2-2', 3-3', 4-4'; 1, 2, 3, 4); and at least one rotor which is moveable along the track section, which interacts with the magnetic fields generated by the stator groups (1-1', 2-2', 3-3', 4-4'; 1, 2, 3, 4) in whose field of action it is situated, wherein the second number n of energy supply units (A, B; A, B, C) is at least two (n >= 2), at least n stator groups as stator group unit are arranged adjacent along the track section and are connected alternately to at least one of the energy supply units (A, B, C) in such a way that at least one of the n stator groups (1-1', 2-2', 3-3', 4-4'; 1, 2, 3, 4), prior to entry of the rotor into the field of action of the stator group and/or after the rotor has left the field of action of the stator group, can substantially be switched without load, wherein the linear drive comprises a controller for controlling the switching units and/or the energy supplies (A, B, C), characterized in that the controller comprises at least one position recording for recording the position of the rotor at least along the track section, wherein the position recording is adapted as a sensor-less position recording. a first number m of stator groups (1-1', 2-2', 3-3', 4-4'; 1, 2, 3, 4,...) which are arranged behind one another along the track section, wherein m >= 2; a second number n of energy supply units (A, B; A, B, C), wherein each of the n energy supply units (A, B; A, B, C) is connected to certain stator groups (1-1', 2-2', 3-3', 4-4'; 1, 2, 3, 4) for supplying electric energy to the respective stator groups (1-1', 2-2', 3-3', 4-4'; 1, 2, 3, 4), wherein n <= m; at least m switching units, wherein each of the m switching units is associated to one of the m stator groups (1-1', 2-2', 3-3', 4-4'; 1, 2, 3, 4) for allowing and/or interrupting the flow of electric energy to a respective stator group (1-1', 2-2', 3-3', 4-4'; 1, 2, 3, 4); and at least one rotor which is moveable along the track section, which interacts with the magnetic fields generated by the stator groups (1-1', 2-2', 3-3', 4-4'; 1, 2, 3, 4) in whose field of action it is situated, wherein the second number n of energy supply units (A, B; A, B, C) is at least two (n >= 2), at least n stator groups as stator group unit are arranged adjacent along the track section and are connected alternately to at least one of the energy supply units (A, B, C) in such a way that at least one of the n stator groups (1-1', 2-2', 3-3', 4-4'; 1, 2, 3, 4), prior to entry of the rotor into the field of action of the stator group and/or after the rotor has left the field of action of the stator group, can substantially be switched without load, wherein the linear drive comprises a controller for controlling the switching units and/or the energy supplies (A, B, C), characterized in that the controller comprises at least one position recording for recording the position of the rotor at least along the track section, wherein the position recording is adapted as a sensor-less position recording.