Drive Unit for an Electric Motor

A battery comprising:

• a multilevel inverter;
• and
• at least one battery module string including a plurality of series-connected battery modules, each of which includes at least one battery cell and a coupling unit,
• wherein the at least one battery cell is connected between a first input and a second input of the coupling unit and the coupling unit is configured to connect the at least one battery cell between a first terminal of the battery module and a second terminal of the battery module in response to a first control signal, and to connect the first terminal to the second terminal in response to a second control signal,
• wherein a plurality of center taps are arranged at the battery module string and are configured to tap a potential at a connection between in each case two battery modules in the plurality of battery modules,
• wherein inverter inputs of the multilevel inverter are connected to the center taps, and
• wherein the battery forms a drive unit.

A motor vehicle comprising:

• an electric drive motor configured to drive the motor vehicle;
• and
• a drive unit connected to the electric drive motor,
• wherein the drive unit includes a multilevel inverter and a battery having at least one battery module string including a plurality of series-connected battery modules,
• wherein each battery module includes at least one battery cell and a coupling unit,
• wherein the at least one battery cell is connected between a first input and a second input of the coupling unit and the coupling unit is configured to connect the at least one battery cell between a first terminal of the battery module and a second terminal of the battery module in response to a first control signal, and to connect the first terminal to the second terminal in response to a second control signal,
• wherein a plurality of center taps are arranged at the battery module string and are configured to tap a potential at a connection between in each case two battery modules in the plurality of battery modules, and
• wherein inverter inputs of the multilevel inverter are connected to the center taps.