Power conversion apparatus

A power conversion apparatus comprising:

• a rotating electrical machine which includes windings which are star-connected;
• an inverter which includes series-connected units equipped with upper arm switches and lower arm switches;
• a connecting path which electrically connects a negative terminal of a first electrical storage, a positive terminal of a second electrical storage connected in series with the first electrical storage, and a neutral point of the windings together;
• a connecting switch which is disposed in the connecting path and works to achieve an electrical connection of the negative terminal of the first electrical storage, the positive terminal of the second electrical storage, and the neutral point when the connecting switch is turned on and also block the electrical connection of the negative terminal of the first electrical storage, the positive terminal of the second electrical storage, and the neutral point when the connecting switch is turned off;
• a determiner which works to determine whether the connecting switch is required to be turned on;
• and
• a controller which turns on the connecting switch when it is determined by the determiner that the connecting switch is required to be turned on to execute a switching control operation on the upper arm switches and the lower arm switches.