A method for operating an electrical machine having a stator and having a rotor with permanent magnets, includes: running the electrical machine; determining, while performing the running of the electrical machine, whether the permanent magnets have been demagnetized; finding, while running the electrical machine, the q-axis responsive to a determination that the permanent magnets have been demagnetized; firing a current pulse through the stator, while running the electrical machine, when the q-axis reaches a desired position relative to a selected stator phase, wherein the current pulse is constructed to remagnetize the permanent magnets; and continuing to run the electrical machine.