Abstract: Electric drive units comprising a common active part having a stator and a rotor, which has windings and/or permanent magnets for a drive function and an energy transmission function, enable the rotor winding that is provided for energy transmission to be used to allow position detection at a low additional cost. For this purpose, a power converter in the rotor, which provides the output of electrical energy for the energy transmission function, impresses an alternating voltage into the rotor winding, said voltage being detected in the stator and allowing the rotor position to be determined.