An electric motor comprises a stator, rotor and powering circuit. A first stator pole is operable to attract a first rotor pole to rotate the rotor when the first stator pole is energized, and a second stator pole is operable to attract a second rotor pole when energized. The circuit comprises a plurality of charge storage devices including a first subset and a second subset which in a first mode of operation is operable to discharge the first subset to both energize the first stator pole and charge the second subset, with the first subset connected in series and the second subset connected in parallel, and in a second mode of operation, the circuit is operable to discharge the second subset to both energize the second stator pole and charge the first subset, with the second subset connected in series and the first subset connected in parallel.