An apparatus in an electric vehicle including a propulsion electric motor powered by energy from an energy storage system, including a field oriented motor controller generating motor control signals for the electric motor, the motor control signals responsive to a flux command signal and a torque command signal; a torque command calculator, coupled to the motor controller, generating the torque command signal to command a desired torque; an optimal efficiency controller, coupled to the torque command calculator, generating an operating efficiency flux to operate the electric motor at a first determinable efficiency using a first power from the energy storage system while providing the desired torque; an excess dissipation controller generating an inefficient flux to operate the electric motor at a second determinable efficiency using a second power from the energy storage system independent of the desired torque wherein the second power is greater than the first power; and a mode controller setting the flux command signal using one of the optimal efficiency flux and the inefficient flux.