Abstract: A light-weight, high-speed, electrically powered manually directed floor polisher for cleaning and polishing a floor, the polisher having a carriage on which is mounted wheels, a motor, an electronic motor controller means for providing the current and voltage to operate the motor, cooling means for cooling the motor and its controller, the controller including a power factor correction device, a polishing pad, means engaged to the polishing pad and the brushless D.C. motor for rotating the polishing pad, the polishing pad fixed on the carriage so that substantially the entire area of its polishing face is in contact with the surface during operation of the polisher, and a detachable free-floating handle rotatably mounted to the carriage to direct transport of the polisher when in operation.