Inverter device for electric vehicle

An inverter device for an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle comprising an electric motor configured to generate power for traveling, the inverter device being configured to be mounted in the electric vehicle and drive the electric motor, the inverter device comprising:

• a multilevel inverter circuit comprising switching elements;
• a controller configured to control the switching elements;
• and
• temperature sensors configured to respectively detect temperatures of the switching elements, wherein
• the multilevel inverter circuit comprises combinations for outputting phase currents in a same phase and in a same direction as combinations to drive the switching elements, and
• the controller is configured to, when the electric motor is in a locked state in which torque is output from the electric motor and the electric motor is non-rotatable, switch between the combinations of the switching elements to be driven, based on outputs of the temperature sensors.