The Department of Electrical Machines was established on April 24, 1947, as part of the Machine-Electrotechnological Faculty of the State Polytechnic under the name "Theory of Electrical Machines". Its head until 1958 was Prof. Ivan Popov (senior). In July 1949, a separate new department "Design of Electrical Machines" was created, headed by Prof. Ivan Popov (junior), which was renamed "Design of Electrical Machines" in 1953. 
 A year later - in 1954, the two departments merged into one general department named "Electrical Machines and Apparatus". 
 Over the years, the academic disciplines and courses increased rapidly, and four sections were established within the department: "Electrical Machines" headed by Prof. Ivan Popov (senior), "Electrical Apparatus" headed by Senior Lecturer Petar Penchev, "Electrical Equipment of Industrial Enterprises" headed by Eng. Nikolai Naplatanov, and "Electrification of Transport" headed by Assoc. Prof. Georgi Nikolchev. These sections later evolved into independent departments: "Electrification of Transport" (established in 1960), "Electrical Equipment of Industrial Enterprises" under the name "Electrical Equipment and Automation of Industry" (1961), "Electrical Machines" and "Electrical Apparatus" (1964).

The name of the department remains unchanged to this day, and its history remembers many established teachers and specialists in the field of electrical machines, such as Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Prof. Dr.Sc. Venetslav Dinov, Prof. Dr. Angel Angelov, Prof. Stefan Popadiin, Prof. Dr.Sc. Emil Sokolov, Prof. Dr.Sc. Gancho Bozhilov, Prof. Dr. Stefan Genov, and others.

 The department has a developed laboratory base that allows for conducting laboratory exercises in all disciplines. The main laboratory for "Electrical Machines" was established by Assoc. Prof. Yordan Tsankov in 1947. In 1970, it was completely reconstructed and modernized, and in 2000, it was moved from the building of the "Levski" monument to the new building of the Faculty of Electrotechnics in kv. Darenitsa, bl.12.
Currently, the Department of Electrical Machines has 14 laboratories and one seminar room, in which classes are held for students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, the Faculty of Electronic Engineering and Technologies, the Faculty of Computer Systems and Technologies, the Faculty for French-language training in electrical engineering, and the Department for English-language instruction. These laboratories are also used for scientific research by both faculty members and doctoral students.