Electric motors or power drive systems convert nearly half of the worldwide electric energy into mechanical energy, ultimately used in the tinal application or process. Overall motor driven system optimization is the key approach to effectively achieve the highest system efficiency levels for a given investment. Looking individually to each component may not lead to the most cost-effective option in terms of investment. In this 2-part paper, an overview on the motor driven system optimization is presented, looking at the most relevant related standards, commercial technologies and energy consumption reduction strategies. A collection of practical examples is also presented. Tn Part 1, an overview on international standards associated and high-efficiency technologies for power drive systems is presented. Tn Part 2, the energy savings potential associated with the output power reduction and regeneration is addressed.