A ferrite permanent magnet electrical machine comprising: a stator assembly comprising: a stator core including a plurality of stator teeth (46, 76); and stator windings wound about the plurality of stator teeth (46, 76) to generate a stator magnetic field when excited with alternating currents; a rotor assembly configured to rotate relative to the stator assembly, the rotor assembly being separated from the stator assembly by an air gap; a plurality of ferrite permanent magnets (32, 94) disposed within one of the stator assembly or the rotor assembly, the plurality of ferrite permanent magnets (32, 94) configured to generate a magnetic field that interacts with the stator magnetic field to produce a torque; and a controller programmed to: cause a primary field current to be applied to the stator windings to generate the stator magnetic field, so as to cause the rotor assembly to rotate relative to the stator assembly; and selectively cause a secondary current to be applied to the stator windings to selectively generate a secondary magnetic field, the secondary magnetic field inducing eddy currents in at least one of the stator assembly and the rotor assembly to heat the plurality of ferrite permanent magnets (32, 94), characterized in that the rotor assembly further comprises a ring element formed of an electrically conductive material, wherein eddy currents are induced in the ring element responsive to application of the secondary current to the stator windings. a stator assembly comprising: a stator core including a plurality of stator teeth (46, 76); and stator windings wound about the plurality of stator teeth (46, 76) to generate a stator magnetic field when excited with alternating currents; a stator core including a plurality of stator teeth (46, 76); and stator windings wound about the plurality of stator teeth (46, 76) to generate a stator magnetic field when excited with alternating currents; a rotor assembly configured to rotate relative to the stator assembly, the rotor assembly being separated from the stator assembly by an air gap; a plurality of ferrite permanent magnets (32, 94) disposed within one of the stator assembly or the rotor assembly, the plurality of ferrite permanent magnets (32, 94) configured to generate a magnetic field that interacts with the stator magnetic field to produce a torque; and a controller programmed to: cause a primary field current to be applied to the stator windings to generate the stator magnetic field, so as to cause the rotor assembly to rotate relative to the stator assembly; and selectively cause a secondary current to be applied to the stator windings to selectively generate a secondary magnetic field, the secondary magnetic field inducing eddy currents in at least one of the stator assembly and the rotor assembly to heat the plurality of ferrite permanent magnets (32, 94), characterized in that the rotor assembly further comprises a ring element formed of an electrically conductive material, wherein eddy currents are induced in the ring element responsive to application of the secondary current to the stator windings. a controller programmed to: cause a primary field current to be applied to the stator windings to generate the stator magnetic field, so as to cause the rotor assembly to rotate relative to the stator assembly; and selectively cause a secondary current to be applied to the stator windings to selectively generate a secondary magnetic field, the secondary magnetic field inducing eddy currents in at least one of the stator assembly and the rotor assembly to heat the plurality of ferrite permanent magnets (32, 94), characterized in that the rotor assembly further comprises a ring element formed of an electrically conductive material, wherein eddy currents are induced in the ring element responsive to application of the secondary current to the stator windings.