PCT No. PCT/GB96/01597 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 23, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 23, 1998 PCT Filed Jul. 4, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97/02649 PCT Pub. Date Jan. 23, 1997A switched reluctance electrical machine system including a switched reluctance machine, a rechargeable DC energy store and principle voltage terminals connectable to an external power source. The switched reluctance machine comprises a rotor, a stator and windings wherein the windings include at least two closely-coupled coils and a power converter for controlling current flow in the windings. The power converter has first and second circuits. The first circuit contains one of the closely-coupled coils and the principle voltage terminals while the second circuit contains the other of the closely-coupled coils and the energy store. A first switching arrangement is connected in series with the coils in the first circuit and a second switching arrangement is connected in series with the coils in the second circuit. An electronic controller controls the switching arrangements so that, in a first operational mode, current flows in one direction in the coils during normal machine operation and, in a second operational mode, current flows in the coils in the opposite direction to charge the energy store from an external power source.