A device discharges an intermediate circuit capacitor. The device includes a power converter for supplying electricity to an electrical machine powering a vehicle, having the intermediate circuit capacitor and a discharge device with a series circuit of a controllable switching element and a load resistor, and a high-voltage battery feeding the power converter on the input side. The power converter has a control equipment to control the switching element, depending on a signal state at an input of the control equipment, to perform a fixed predefined number of switching operations, in which the switching element conducts, with a fixed predefined duration and a fixed predefined delay between two successive switching operations. The load resistor and its heat transfer to the power converter are set so that the load resistor is not damaged if a maximum constant voltage of the high-voltage battery is applied during a respective switching operation.