The voltage supplied to the stator windings of a brushless DC motor is pulse-width-modulated by a circuit which interrupts the energization thereof for a predetermined period of time whenever the DC line current supplied thereto exceeds a current reference. The frequency and off/on duty cycle of the applied voltage is relatively high near zero speed to produce smooth motor starting torque and decreases with increasing motor speed. The pulse-width-modulation effects regenerative braking whenever the stator winding energization sequence is changed to reverse the direction of motor rotation.