Vehicle control device

A vehicle control device 30 includes a drive motor 11 and an engaging/disengaging mechanism 40 having a function to permit and cut off torque transmission between the drive motor 11 and wheels 15. The vehicle control device 30 further includes a smoothing capacitor 33 that smoothes electric power applied from a secondary battery 6, a drive circuit 32 for the drive motor 11, a drive circuit 36 for the engaging/disengaging mechanism 40, and a microprocessor 31 for controlling each drive circuit. If it is determined that a collision of a vehicle has occurred, the microprocessor 31 disconnects each drive circuit from the secondary battery 6, and outputs a command to disengage the engaging/disengaging mechanism 40.