An electric drive comprises a bearingless electric machine, a converter, and a control device. The stator of the electric machine has a cage winding including bars connected to a conductor ring. The control device controls the converter to supply torque generating current components to the bars so that torque is generated in accordance with electric machine control and to supply levitation current components to the bars so that the rotor of the bearingless electric machine is levitated in accordance with levitation control. The cage winding allows the currents of the bars to be controlled so that different current sheet distributions can be generated so as to generate desired torque and magnetic force.