An electrical system including a linear motor in which energized forcer and thruster coils are used for the field and armature elements. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, one or more thruster coils may be provided on a shaft with opposing single or multiple fixed forcer coils. Using coils as the electromagnets for forcer and thruster coils advantageously provides necessary power while also minimizing system weight and decreases in magnetism typically encountered with permanent magnets with rising temperature, resulting in higher and more controllable magnetic forces over varying temperatures. Ferrous elements, such as a ferrous system housing and/or open ferrous containers for the thruster coils may be further included to advantageously focus the magnetic forces. Additionally, multiple forcer and thruster coils may be disposed in various arrangements along the shaft. Exemplary applications include use of such a system for controlling oscillations of a poppet valve in an internal combustion engine.