Abstract: A drive system, including an electric traction drive with electric traction motors, wherein at least one of the traction motors is a permanently excited synchronous machine having a rotor with a plurality of permanent magnets and a stator with a magnetic field generator for generating a stator magnetic field. The drive system further includes at least one controller configured to switch off the at least one traction motor as a function of a load state of the drive system at least in partial load operation, such that the at least one traction motor is in a towing mode and is towed along while another of the at least two traction motors is still switched on and supplies a torque for driving. The controller generates a defined magnetic field with the magnetic field generator and demagnetizes the permanent magnets with a demagnetization field such that drag losses are reduced when towing.