A drive unit of the invention comprises a motor that can input/output motive power to/from a drive shaft, a drive circuit that performs drive control of the motor, a fuel cell that is connected to the drive circuit without the intervention of a voltage converter such that electric power can be output, a charge/discharge portion that is connected to the fuel cell in parallel and to the drive circuit such that electric power can be output and that has at least one capacitor whose voltage in a fully charged state is higher than an inter-open-terminal voltage of the fuel cell, a diode that is installed between the fuel cell and the charge/discharge portion such that electric power can be output only in a direction from the fuel cell to the charge/discharge portion, and a drive control portion that controls the drive circuit such that drive control of the motor is performed on the basis of required motive power to be transmitted to the drive shaft. This drive unit is characterized in that the drive circuit performs drive control of the motor through the output of electric power from the charge/discharge portion or the output of electric power from the charge/discharge portion and the fuel cell.