Patent attributes
A drive unit for an electric motor comprises a multilevel inverter and a battery. The battery comprises at least one battery module train comprising a plurality of battery modules connected in series, each module having at least one battery cell and one coupling unit. The at least one battery cell is connected between a first input and a second input of the coupling unit. The coupling unit is designed to connect the at least one battery cell between two terminals of the battery module in response to on a first control signal and to connect the two terminals in response to a second control signal. Several center taps are arranged on the battery module train, by means of which a potential can be tapped at a connection between two battery modules respectively. Inputs of the multilevel inverter are connected to the taps.