Featured is a starter/generator to start a reciprocating engine or generate electrical energy using the engine. The starter/generator includes a plurality of magnetic elements that establish a magnetic flux, each magnetic element being attached to a surface of the crankshaft so the element moves in a prescribed path as the crankshaft rotates; a plurality of stator elements being arranged within the engine so as to be maintained in fixed relation to a corresponding magnetic element as it moves in the prescribed path, and control circuitry being configured and arranged to control the functionality of each stator element. In one mode a stator element is controlled so that movement of the magnetic element by the stator element cause electrical energy to be generated in the respective stator element and so in another mode each stator element/magnetic element combination operates the motor/generator as a motor.