Energy · 1888

AC induction motor

Tesla's rotating magnetic field drives a rugged, brushless motor.

Nikola Tesla patented polyphase induction motors in 1888, as Galileo Ferraris did similar work in Italy; Westinghouse licensed Tesla's patents. Induction motors now use roughly 40% of the world's electricity, running pumps, fans and factories.

See it in the living tree Wikipedia

Arcs above join it to what it stood on, arcs below to what it led to. The bar places this stretch on the tree's whole timeline.

What it built on 2

AC power system 1886
Electric motor 1834

What it led to 3

Three-phase transmission 1891
GM EV1 1996
Tesla Roadster 2008

Related measurements

The dashed line marks when it first worked.

UK electricity output since 1896 Latest: 3.57M MWh (1998) Source: Our World in Data

Energy used per dollar of GDP Latest: 1.21 kWh per $ (2022) Source: Our World in Data

Energy use per person Latest: 20.3k kWh (2025) Source: Our World in Data