A power converter comprising: a DC power supply that outputs a DC voltage; a reverse flow prevention diode that is connected to one output terminal of the DC power supply so as to make a current flow in a forward direction; a full-bridge circuit (12, 102) that is formed of a plurality of semiconductor switches having circulation diodes; a current sensor or a current detecting shunt resistor (29, 106) that detects charging and discharging current of a load that is capable of being charged or discharged and is connected to the full-bridge circuit (12, 102); an operating section (14, 16) that is connected so that output power of the DC power supply is input thereto through the reverse flow prevention diode; and a control section that performs control of an operation of the semiconductor switches, wherein in the full-bridge circuit (12, 102), a connection point of a first and third semiconductor switches is a first connection point, a connection point of a second and fourth semiconductor switches is a second connection point, a connection point of the first and second semiconductor switches connected in series is a third connection point, and a connection point of the third and fourth semiconductor switches connected in series is a fourth connection point, one output terminal of the DC power supply is connected to the first connection point through the reverse flow prevention diode and the operating section (14, 16) is connected to the first connection point, the other output terminal of the DC power supply is connected to the second connection point, and the load is connected between the third connection point and the fourth connection point through an inductor, and wherein the control section performs a charging operation that supplies a charging current to the load and a discharging operation that outputs a discharging current from the load by controlling each semiconductor switch of the full-bridge circuit, and controls all semiconductor switches of the full-bridge circuit (12, 102) to be in an OFF state while switching between the charging operation and the discharging operation, such that an inertia current generated by energy accumulated in the inductor flows from the circulation diode of the semiconductor switch that is in an OFF state to the first connection point, and the inertia current is supplied to the operating section (14, 16) due to the reverse flow prevention diode. a DC power supply that outputs a DC voltage; a reverse flow prevention diode that is connected to one output terminal of the DC power supply so as to make a current flow in a forward direction; a full-bridge circuit (12, 102) that is formed of a plurality of semiconductor switches having circulation diodes; a current sensor or a current detecting shunt resistor (29, 106) that detects charging and discharging current of a load that is capable of being charged or discharged and is connected to the full-bridge circuit (12, 102); an operating section (14, 16) that is connected so that output power of the DC power supply is input thereto through the reverse flow prevention diode; and a control section that performs control of an operation of the semiconductor switches, wherein in the full-bridge circuit (12, 102), a connection point of a first and third semiconductor switches is a first connection point, a connection point of a second and fourth semiconductor switches is a second connection point, a connection point of the first and second semiconductor switches connected in series is a third connection point, and a connection point of the third and fourth semiconductor switches connected in series is a fourth connection point, one output terminal of the DC power supply is connected to the first connection point through the reverse flow prevention diode and the operating section (14, 16) is connected to the first connection point, the other output terminal of the DC power supply is connected to the second connection point, and the load is connected between the third connection point and the fourth connection point through an inductor, and wherein the control section performs a charging operation that supplies a charging current to the load and a discharging operation that outputs a discharging current from the load by controlling each semiconductor switch of the full-bridge circuit, and controls all semiconductor switches of the full-bridge circuit (12, 102) to be in an OFF state while switching between the charging operation and the discharging operation, such that an inertia current generated by energy accumulated in the inductor flows from the circulation diode of the semiconductor switch that is in an OFF state to the first connection point, and the inertia current is supplied to the operating section (14, 16) due to the reverse flow prevention diode.