ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILE, IN-WHEEL MOTOR DRIVE DEVICE, AND MOTOR CONTROL METHOD

An electric vehicle is proposed which can achieve early detection of abnormal short-circuit of motor coils, thus avoiding various driving problems. The electric vehicle includes a motor unit (6) configured to drive a wheel (2). The motor unit (6) includes a synchronous motor with three-phase motor coils. The three-phase motor coils include a first motor coil, a second motor coil and a third motor coil of different phases. One end of the first motor coil, one end of the second motor coil and one end of the third motor coil are connected with each other at a neutral point in a star connection. The electric vehicle also includes an abnormal short-circuit monitor (95) configured to detect an abnormal short-circuit of the motor coils, and also includes an abnormalities-responsive disconnection unit (Es) configured to electrically disconnect the motor coils from the neutral point (P1).