This paper deals with the comparative investigation on an interior permanent magnet synchronous machine (IPMSM) and a surface-mounted permanent magnet synchronous machine (SPMSM) considering operating
conditions, and finite element method (FEM) is employed to analyze their electromagnetic field characteristics. For the reasonable comparison, those machines have identical machine size and equivalent circuit parameters, such as induced voltage and resistance, and one of the analysis models is manufactured for the experimental verification. From the no-load and load test, the induced voltage and phase current are measured, and the validity of analysis results are demonstrated by showing well corresponded results. In addition, since the phase current contains harmonic components, they are considered in the power loss characteristic analysis by considering operating conditions to investigate their influence on machine performance. In this study, the SPMSM shows relatively better core loss and rotor loss characteristics compared to IPMSM when the machines are operated in high rotational speed condition.