---
title: "Group drive vs individual drive"
subject: "Utilization of Electrical Energy"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_7/utilization_of_electrical_energy:group-vs-individual-drive"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/utilization_of_electrical_energy/group-vs-individual-drive
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Group drive vs individual drive

Utilization of Electrical Energy · Chapter 2: Electric Drive System

- Asked in: 2072 Chaitra, 4 marks
- Video: [types of drive | electrical drive | mechanical drive | L-18 | individual drive | electric drive](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oDLBxzikHU) — Mind of Engineer 
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/utilization_of_electrical_energy/group-vs-individual-drive
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/utilization_of_electrical_energy/chapter-2

## Question

Write the difference between group drive and individual drive.

## Short answer

Group drive uses one motor for many machines through a line shaft; individual drive gives each machine its own motor. Individual drive offers better efficiency, independent speed control, flexible layout, and less downtime; group drive has lower initial cost but poor efficiency and all machines stop on motor fault.

## Answer

In a **group drive** a single motor drives several machines through a line shaft, belts and pulleys. In an **individual drive** each machine has its own separate motor.

```text
 Group:  M ==== line shaft ====
              |      |      |
            [m/c1] [m/c2] [m/c3]

 Individual: M1-[m/c1]  M2-[m/c2]  M3-[m/c3]
```

| Point | Group drive | Individual drive |
|---|---|---|
| Number of motors | One for many machines | One per machine |
| Initial cost | Less | More |
| Efficiency | Low (shaft, belt losses, motor underloaded) | High |
| Power factor | Poor at light load | Good |
| Speed control | Not possible individually | Easy for each machine |
| Effect of motor fault | All machines stop | Only one machine stops |
| Layout | Machines must be along the line shaft | Flexible, anywhere |
| Safety and cleanliness | Belts and pulleys unsafe, noisy | Safe, clean, quiet |
| Expansion | Difficult | Easy |

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What is a group drive?
   A. Each machine has its own motor
   B. One motor drives several machines through a line shaft, belts and pulleys
   C. Several motors on one machine
   D. A motor driven by a group of converters
   Answer: B. Group drive uses a single motor and line shaft. (Key point: Definition)

2. Compared with individual drive, group drive has:
   A. More initial cost, higher efficiency
   B. Less initial cost, lower efficiency
   C. Less cost, higher efficiency
   D. More cost, lower efficiency
   Answer: B. One motor is cheaper, but shaft and belt losses and underloading lower efficiency. (Key point: Cost and efficiency)

3. If the motor fails in a group drive:
   A. Only one machine stops
   B. All machines stop
   C. Nothing happens
   D. Only the last machine stops
   Answer: B. All machines depend on the single motor. (Key point: Fault effect)

4. Which drive allows flexible machine layout and easy speed control of each machine?
   A. Group drive
   B. Individual drive
   C. Line shaft drive
   D. Belt drive
   Answer: B. Individual drive lets machines be anywhere and controlled separately. (Key point: Layout)

## Related in Utilization of Electrical Energy

- [Group vs individual drive; constant torque vs power](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Futilization_of_electrical_energy%3Agroup-individual-constant-torque-power-drive) — Utilization of Electrical Energy, chapter 2
- [Individual, group and multi-motor drives](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Futilization_of_electrical_energy%3Aindividual-group-multimotor-drive) — Utilization of Electrical Energy, chapter 2
- [Group drive vs multimotor drive](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Futilization_of_electrical_energy%3Agroup-vs-multimotor-drive) — Utilization of Electrical Energy, chapter 2

## Related in other subjects

- [Electric vs mechanical drive, individual vs group](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Findustrial_power_distribution_and_illumination%3Aelectric-vs-mechanical-drive) — Industrial Power Distribution and Illumination, chapter 5