This paper describes a methodology for modelling a six-phase claw-pole alternator with its electrical environment. Magnetic nonlinearities, eddy currents and rectifiers are taken into account. To solve magnetodynamic problems, we use the modified magnetic vector potential formulation. The complex structure of the machine requires a 3D finite element analysis. To limit the mesh size, we introduced a refinement strategy based on the calculation of the time derivative of magnetic vector potential, solution of the magnetostatic case. In addition, we propose to reduce the transient state by improving the initial solution from the solution of a magnetostatic problem. These different numerical techniques reduce drastically the computational time and memory resources. To validate the proposed approach, some results are compared with experimental ones.