PLECS

What it is

PLECS models and simulates power electronic systems, including converters, motor drives, and control algorithms. Its component library covers electrical circuits, mechanics, magnetic circuits, thermal models, controls, and signal processing. For switched systems, PLECS uses ideal on/off semiconductor switches and a two-step switching-event method. Lookup tables can be paired with ideal switch models to calculate semiconductor switching and conduction losses and junction temperature. Control blocks include continuous and discrete functions, PWM generators, state machines, and custom C code; the optional PLECS Coder generates real-time C code. Analysis tools cover steady-state and small-signal work, including open-loop transfer functions, closed-loop gains, and state-space matrices. PLECS Standalone is an independent time-domain simulator with variable-step and fixed-step solvers. PLECS Blockset runs inside Simulink and requires MATLAB and Simulink. Simulation scripts can automate runs and process results using Octave, Python, or MATLAB. PLECS is paid software with a 30-day fully functional trial and no free plan. Individual commercial licenses for Blockset and Standalone are each 8000.00 USD per once.

Who it suits. PLECS suits industrial companies, research labs, and technical universities developing systems such as electric cars, rail vehicles, wind turbines, solar inverters, or power supplies. Teams using Blockset need MATLAB and Simulink.

Verdict

PLECS brings simulation, analysis, and control tools together for power-electronics work. Buyers should distinguish between Standalone and Blockset, especially because Blockset depends on MATLAB and Simulink.

Plans and prices

From PLECS's own pricing page, checked 5 Oct 2026. Every plan

What the maker publishes

Analysis tools

PLECS provides steady-state and small-signal analyses, including open-loop transfer functions, closed-loop gains and state-space matrices. source

Blockset dependency

PLECS Blockset requires MATLAB and Simulink, and the maker lists support for Windows, Mac and Linux. source

Controls and code generation

Control blocks include continuous and discrete functions, PWM generators, state machines and custom C code; the optional PLECS Coder generates real-time C code. source

Integrations

PLECS Blockset runs inside Simulink, and PLECS simulation scripts can automate simulations and process results using Octave, Python or MATLAB. source

Intended users

Plexim identifies industrial companies, research labs and technical universities as customers, including teams developing electric cars, rail vehicles, wind turbines, solar inverters and power supplies. source

Modeling domains

Its component library covers electrical circuits, mechanics, magnetic circuits, thermal models, controls and signal processing. source

Notable licensing limit

PLECS Blockset commercial pricing lists individual, dongle and concurrent licenses; its annual lease costs 50% of the corresponding permanent license. source

Platform support

PLECS Standalone packages are listed for 64-bit Windows, Intel and ARM Mac, and Intel Linux. source

Privacy

Plexim's privacy policy says it does not sell or rent personal information and describes limited sharing with infrastructure, service and business providers. source

Purpose

PLECS models and simulates power electronic systems, including converters, motor drives and control algorithms. source

Standalone edition

PLECS Standalone is an independent time-domain simulator with its own variable-step and fixed-step solvers. source

Support

PLECS support includes tutorials, application examples, technical solutions, installation help, a user forum and a contact-support channel. source

Switched system simulation

PLECS uses ideal on/off semiconductor switches and a two-step switching event approach to simulate switched systems efficiently. source

Thermal analysis

Lookup tables can be used with ideal switch models to calculate semiconductor switching and conduction losses and junction temperature. source