An electric motor drive apparatus comprising: a capacitance element (C1, C2) for smoothing a DC voltage; an electric power converting device (20, 30) for performing electric power conversion between said capacitance element (C1, C2) and at least one electric motor (MG1, MG2); an abnormality sensing device (40, 82) for sensing an abnormality relating to said capacitance element (C1, C2), and for providing a signal being activated when the abnormality is sensed; a control device (60, 60A) for receiving a shutdown signal instructing shutdown of said electric power converting device (20, 30), and for activating and providing a shutdown permission signal for permitting shutdown of said electric power converting device (20, 30) when said shutdown signal is inactive, at least before said abnormality sensing device (40, 82) senses the abnormality; and an AND gate circuit (50, 52, 86) for receiving, as input signals, said shutdown permission signal and the signal provided from said abnormality sensing device, and for activating said shutdown signal and providing the shutdown signal to said electric power converting device (20, 30) and said control device when the signal provided from said abnormality sensing device (40, 82) becomes active while said shutdown permission signal is active; wherein said control device (60, 60A) is arranged to, when a limp-home run permission signal permitting a limp-home run using the at least one electric motor becomes active, inactivate the shutdown permission signal and to control the electric power converting device (20,30) such that a limp-home run using the at least one electric motor is performed. a capacitance element (C1, C2) for smoothing a DC voltage; an electric power converting device (20, 30) for performing electric power conversion between said capacitance element (C1, C2) and at least one electric motor (MG1, MG2); an abnormality sensing device (40, 82) for sensing an abnormality relating to said capacitance element (C1, C2), and for providing a signal being activated when the abnormality is sensed; a control device (60, 60A) for receiving a shutdown signal instructing shutdown of said electric power converting device (20, 30), and for activating and providing a shutdown permission signal for permitting shutdown of said electric power converting device (20, 30) when said shutdown signal is inactive, at least before said abnormality sensing device (40, 82) senses the abnormality; and an AND gate circuit (50, 52, 86) for receiving, as input signals, said shutdown permission signal and the signal provided from said abnormality sensing device, and for activating said shutdown signal and providing the shutdown signal to said electric power converting device (20, 30) and said control device when the signal provided from said abnormality sensing device (40, 82) becomes active while said shutdown permission signal is active; wherein said control device (60, 60A) is arranged to, when a limp-home run permission signal permitting a limp-home run using the at least one electric motor becomes active, inactivate the shutdown permission signal and to control the electric power converting device (20,30) such that a limp-home run using the at least one electric motor is performed.