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 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 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 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 . a) simultaneously disconnecting all electromagnetic elements of all segments from a power supply while the rotor rotates, b) measuring an electric variable 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 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 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 . <EOS>