At what point do electric motors draw the most current?

Electric motors draw the most current when starting due to the initial surge of power required to overcome inertia and initiate motion. This is referred to as inrush current, and it is significantly higher than the current draw during normal operation. When an electric motor is idle, it consumes minimal power, primarily for any required resistance losses but not enough to draw a high current. During normal running at full speed, the current draw stabilizes to the level required to maintain operation under normal load conditions. While motors do draw additional current when under a heavy load to overcome increased resistance and maintain speed, this current is generally less than the starting current needed to begin motion. Thus, the point of highest current draw in the motor's operation is clearly at the moment of starting.