Abstract: An electric vehicle that has: a DC power supply; an inverter; an inverter control circuit; a smoothing capacitor that is connected between input terminals of the inverter; a discharge circuit that discharges the smoothing capacitor; a control power supply that supplies electric power to the inverter control circuit; a holding capacitor that stores the electric power supplied from the control power supply and supplies the electric power to the inverter control circuit; and a collision detector that detects a collision of the vehicle. The collision detector transmits a first signal and a second signal that follows the first signal when detecting the collision. The inverter control circuit stops supplying the electric power to a switching element drive circuit when receiving the first signal. The inverter control circuit discharges the smoothing capacitor when receiving the second signal.

Abstract: A power converter may include a smoothing capacitor for a high voltage power source; a discharge circuit for the smoothing capacitor, a controller configured to control the discharge circuit by receiving power via a main power line and a backup power line from a sub-power source; a first switch, arranged on the backup power line, and configured to connect the controller to the sub-power source when a controlling voltage, which is higher than a threshold voltage, is applied to an input terminal of the first switch from the controller, and cut off the controller from the sub-power source when the controlling voltage falls; a voltage retaining capacitor connected between the input terminal and a ground; a second switch controlled by the controller, connected between the input terminal and the ground. An external switch is arranged on the main power line. The external switch may be controlled by another device.

Abstract: A power converter may include a smoothing capacitor for a high voltage power source; a discharge circuit for the smoothing capacitor, a controller configured to control the discharge circuit by receiving power via a main power line and a backup power line from a sub-power source; a first switch, arranged on the backup power line, and configured to connect the controller to the sub-power source when a controlling voltage, which is higher than a threshold voltage, is applied to an input terminal of the first switch from the controller, and cut off the controller from the sub-power source when the controlling voltage falls; a voltage retaining capacitor connected between the input terminal and a ground; a second switch controlled by the controller, connected between the input terminal and the ground. An external switch is arranged on the main power line. The external switch may be controlled by another device.

Abstract: An electric vehicle that has: a DC power supply; an inverter; an inverter control circuit; a smoothing capacitor that is connected between input terminals of the inverter; a discharge circuit that discharges the smoothing capacitor; a control power supply that supplies electric power to the inverter control circuit; a holding capacitor that stores the electric power supplied from the control power supply and supplies the electric power to the inverter control circuit; and a collision detector that detects a collision of the vehicle. The collision detector transmits a first signal and a second signal that follows the first signal when detecting the collision. The inverter control circuit stops supplying the electric power to a switching element drive circuit when receiving the first signal. The inverter control circuit discharges the smoothing capacitor when receiving the second signal.