An elevator car travels in a lane (113, 115, 117) of an elevator shaft (111). A linear propulsion system imparts force to the car (214). The system includes a first part (116) mounted in the lane of the shaft and a second part (118) mounted to the elevator car configured to co-act with the first part to impart movement to the car. Car state sensors (360a-c) are disposed in the lane and determine a state space vector of the car within the lane. A sensed element (364) on the car is sensed by the plurality of car state sensors when the car is in proximity to the respective car state sensor. A control system (225) applies an electrical current to at least one of the first part and the second part and the plurality of car state sensors communicate with the control system and the linear propulsion system to provide state space vector data.