A method of startup of an electric start electrical power generating system EPGS (100, 200, 300, 500), the EPGS (100, 200, 300, 500) comprising a generator (101, 201, 301, 501) configured to power a direct current, DC, load (115, 215, 315, 511) via a DC bus (109, 209, 309, 504) that is connected to the generator through a start inverter (110, 505), the method comprising: disconnecting the DC load (115, 215, 315, 511) from the DC bus (109, 209, 309, 504); connecting a battery (112, 212, 312, 506) to a reconfigurable power converter (113, 213, 317, 509), the reconfigurable power converter (113, 213, 317, 509) being connected to the DC bus, the reconfigurable power converter including switches that allow it to be selectively coupled to the battery and transistors that can be controlled to cause the reconfigurable power converter to operate as a three phase interleave boost converter that receives power when coupled to the battery; powering the generator (101, 201, 301, 501) during startup using the battery (112, 212, 312, 506) by a connection to the reconfigurable power converter via the switches and by using the start inverter; when the generator (101, 201, 301, 501) reaches a minimum speed: disconnecting the battery (112, 212, 312, 506) from the reconfigurable power converter (113, 213, 313, 509) by opening the switches; converting the start inverter into a rectifier, wherein the rectifier is connected between the generator and the DC bus; operating the reconfigurable power converter (113, 213, 317, 509) as a synchronous active filter, SAF, by varying a control signal to the transistors; bringing up the voltage on the DC bus (109, 209, 309, 504) by the generator (101, 201, 301, 501); and when the voltage on the DC bus (109, 209, 309, 504) reaches a predetermined level, connecting the DC load (115, 215, 315, 511) to the DC bus (109, 209, 309, 504). disconnecting the DC load (115, 215, 315, 511) from the DC bus (109, 209, 309, 504); connecting a battery (112, 212, 312, 506) to a reconfigurable power converter (113, 213, 317, 509), the reconfigurable power converter (113, 213, 317, 509) being connected to the DC bus, the reconfigurable power converter including switches that allow it to be selectively coupled to the battery and transistors that can be controlled to cause the reconfigurable power converter to operate as a three phase interleave boost converter that receives power when coupled to the battery; powering the generator (101, 201, 301, 501) during startup using the battery (112, 212, 312, 506) by a connection to the reconfigurable power converter via the switches and by using the start inverter; when the generator (101, 201, 301, 501) reaches a minimum speed: disconnecting the battery (112, 212, 312, 506) from the reconfigurable power converter (113, 213, 313, 509) by opening the switches; converting the start inverter into a rectifier, wherein the rectifier is connected between the generator and the DC bus; operating the reconfigurable power converter (113, 213, 317, 509) as a synchronous active filter, SAF, by varying a control signal to the transistors; bringing up the voltage on the DC bus (109, 209, 309, 504) by the generator (101, 201, 301, 501); and when the voltage on the DC bus (109, 209, 309, 504) reaches a predetermined level, connecting the DC load (115, 215, 315, 511) to the DC bus (109, 209, 309, 504). disconnecting the battery (112, 212, 312, 506) from the reconfigurable power converter (113, 213, 313, 509) by opening the switches; converting the start inverter into a rectifier, wherein the rectifier is connected between the generator and the DC bus; operating the reconfigurable power converter (113, 213, 317, 509) as a synchronous active filter, SAF, by varying a control signal to the transistors; bringing up the voltage on the DC bus (109, 209, 309, 504) by the generator (101, 201, 301, 501); and when the voltage on the DC bus (109, 209, 309, 504) reaches a predetermined level, connecting the DC load (115, 215, 315, 511) to the DC bus (109, 209, 309, 504).