A power converter, an electric drive system and a method for operating a power converter are disclosed. The power converter has connections for connecting to a direct voltage source and connections for electrical connection to phase lines of the electric drive machine. The power converter is configured to convert a direct voltage from the direct voltage source via a direct voltage intermediate circuit into an alternating voltage in order to drive the drive machine. The power converter includes bridge branches for connecting a high-potential section to a low-potential section. A bridge branch includes two half branches with at least one switching device. A resulting nominal voltage of a half branch is greater than a counter-electromotive peak voltage between two phase lines at the maximum rotational speed of the drive machine. A half branch of a bridge branch includes a series circuit of two or more than two switching devices.