An electric motor drive device has an inverter adjusting the voltage applied to an AC electric motor so as to drive the AC electric motor, a capacitor which is charged by a current supplied from a DC power supply supplying DC voltage between a neutral point at which a plurality of coils of the AC electric motor are connected and a positive rail or negative rail of an inverter and passing through the inverter, and a control circuit controlling the inverter so that the AC electric motor turns at a designated speed. Further, the control circuit selectively uses field weakening control and voltage boosting control for control of the inverter according to the conditions of the induced voltage generated at the AC electric motor, DC power supply, and voltage of the capacitor.