Geared vs. gearless elevator motors
A geared machine uses a worm gearbox to slow down an asynchronous motor, and it's typically used in lower-rise buildings at speeds up to about 1 m/s. A gearless machine skips the gearbox: a permanent-magnet synchronous motor drives the sheave directly, which means less noise, a smaller footprint, and higher energy efficiency and speed.
For short residential buildings, a geared machine usually costs less upfront. For taller towers, or projects that need a small or machine-room-less layout, gearless is the more common choice. The exact model is matched to rated load, speed, and shaft rise.