High power-density, high back emf permanent magnet machine

An electric drive system includes a permanent magnet machine (70) having a rotor (116) and a stator (118) and a power converter (62) electrically coupled to the permanent magnet machine (70) and configured to convert a DC link voltage to an AC output voltage to drive the permanent magnet machine (70). The power converter (62) includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices (74-84) having a voltage rating that exceeds a peak line-to-line back electromotive force of the permanent magnet machine (70) at a maximum speed of the permanent magnet machine (70).