This paper discusses the development of a 3.5 kW switched reluctance motor (SRM)-based electric air-conditioning (AC) compressor, focusing primarily on the design aspects of the SRM and the integrated controller. In addition to the increased price of rare-earth magnets, SRM’s operation capability at high speed and high temperature makes the SRM a viable alternative to the permanent magnet motor for electrically driven automotive air conditioning compressors. A compact and energy efficient scroll compressor is designed and constructed. Two feasible SRM topologies are considered, in terms of efficiency, torque ripple, and acoustic noise. Compact drive electronics are designed and employed to drive the SRM-based compressor. The static and dynamic performance is validated by simulation and experiment.