Device for driving inverter

A device for driving an inverter having a semiconductor switching element, the device comprising:

• an operation unit which calculates a surge voltage based on at least a temperature, an electric current, and a direct current side voltage of the semiconductor switching element;
• and
• a gate voltage application unit which applies a gate voltage to a gate of the semiconductor switching element, the gate voltage application unit controlling increase and decrease of the gate voltage based on a comparison result between the surge voltage which is calculated and an element breakdown voltage of the semiconductor switching element, wherein the gate voltage application unit controls the gate voltage to a value which is higher than a predetermined reference value when the surge voltage is less than the element breakdown voltage and a difference between the surge voltage and the element breakdown voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage, and sets the gate voltage to the reference value when the surge voltage is less than the element breakdown voltage and a difference between the surge voltage and the element breakdown voltage is equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value.