We considered the development of a simulation model of tram traction drive with induction motors. Development of a simulation model is executed with the help of the program "Matlab" and SimPowerSystem application. The proposed model allows to calculate the energy performance traction for an electric tram. SimPowerSystems, as part of Simulink, is considered one of the best packages for the simulation of electrical devices and systems. The purpose of the simulation model is to find out the rational structure of a traction drive with a minimal loss of electricity in a traction inverter and traction motor. The problem of modeling is to analyze the energy losses in a traction inverter tram in a traction engine cooling system taking into account the different traffic conditions, element base of an inverter and control methods. Application of this model will allow to assess parameters of the traction converter (type of semiconductor elements, circuits of ripple voltage reduction etc.), to compare different control algorithms depending on the load of the rolling stock, track profile, and speed. Improvement and validation of this model is carried out together with colleagues from Traffic control systems department of the Technical University of Dresden, with the purpose of introduction of electric rolling motion simulator, based on MATLAB software package.