A drive apparatus with at least one synchronous motor, a converter and a mechanical energy buffer able to be fed from an energy supply network, which, for converting mechanical energy into electrical current, includes a first asynchronous machine, and a method of operation for such a drive apparatus are specified, with which or in which the energy buffer, especially its first asynchronous machine is directly electrically connected via a switchover device to the at least one synchronous motor, so that the converter included in the drive apparatus is bypassed for such a switch position of the switchover device and the converter accordingly does not have to be designed for currents which flow in such a switch position of the switchover device.