In this paper, the coupling effect of a double-stator linear induction motor (LIM) is studied with the 3-D finite-element method (3-D FEM). The thrust force of the double-stator LIM with in-phase current is compared with the forces with inversed current and single stator excited. According to the 3-D FEM results, two coupling models of the double-stator LIM are built and validated by a thrust force test.