Power converter

The present invention relates to a power converter and provides, an overvoltage suppression function of low cost and high reliability. The power converter (1) has a power conversion circuit (5), when driving a motor (2), for converting power from a battery (3) and supplying it to the motor (2) and when the motor (2) generates power, converting the generated power of the motor (2) and supplying it to the battery (3) for storage of electricity and a drive circuit (6) for driving the power conversion circuit (5). The power conversion circuit (5) includes a plurality of paired switching elements (101-106), in which one of each paired switching elements (101-106) is arranged on an upper arm, and the other is arranged an a lower arm, and each pair corresponds to each phase of the motor (2). The drive circuit (6), when the voltage applied to the power conversion circuit (5) is increased, turns on all the switching elements (101-106) on one arm, turns off all the switching elements (101-106) on the other arm, thereby short-circuits the output terminals of the motor (2).