| CPC G01R 31/34 (2013.01) [H02P 21/141 (2013.01); H02P 21/20 (2016.02); H02P 2207/05 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |

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1. A method for categorizing performance of an electric traction machine being a permanent magnetic synchronous motor, PMSM, the PMSM being coupled to a drive shaft, and powered by a battery via an inverter, the method comprising:
decoupling the PMSM from drive shaft;
performing a first retardation test to measure the flux linkage of the permanent magnets, PM flux, in the PMSM;
performing a second retardation test in which the inverter is disconnected, to measure the no-load power losses of the PMSM;
correlating the PM flux with the no-load power losses in a health parameter of the PMSM, and comparing the health parameter with reference data of known health parameters of a population of PMSMs;
categorizing the performance of the PMSM based on the compared health parameter.
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