POWER CONVERTER

A power converter includes a charger, a battery, a motor, an inrush current limiter, and processing circuitry. A first switching unit connects the charger to the battery. A second switching unit connects a positive conductor to the neutral point of the motor. A third switching unit connects the battery and the inverter. The inrush current limiter is connected in parallel to the third switching unit and includes a resistance element and a fourth switching unit. The controller pre-charges a second capacitor arranged between the battery and the inverter by turning off the third switching unit and turning on the fourth switching unit. The controller pre-charges a first capacitor arranged between the charger and the battery after pre-charging the second capacitor by performing a step-down operation with the inverter while turning on the second and third switching units and turning off the first and fourth switching units.