In accordance with exemplary embodiments, rotor temperature estimation is provided for estimating rotor temperatures of an electric motor in an electric vehicle. A method comprises estimating a rotor temperature in a controller for an electric motor of a vehicle using a fast-mode rotor temperature estimator for a time interval, and then deactivating the fast-mode rotor temperate estimator after the time interval and activating a normal-mode rotor temperature estimator in the controller for the electric motor of the vehicle. A system comprises an electric motor, a resistance rotor temperature estimator including a limit value limiting a temperature estimate increase for temperature estimates, and a controller for the electric motor, which uses the temperature estimate and is configured to temporarily increase the limit value of the resistance rotor temperature estimator providing a fast-mode rotor temperature estimate.